Ultimaker and SME Education Foundation Launch 3D Printing Scholarship Program

Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, is a transformative technology, revolutionizing industries and offering innovative solutions to complex problems. Beyond its industrial applications, 3D printing is rapidly becoming an important catalyst in modern education, inspiring the next generation of engineers, designers, and problem-solvers. In a recent “SME Insights” interview at SME's RAPID + TCT event in Detroit, Rob Luce, Vice President of the SME Education Foundation, sat down with Dottie Stewart, VP of Sales–Americas at UltiMaker, to discuss their impactful partnership and shared vision for nurturing future talent. 

Fostering Innovation from Kindergarten to Career 

UltiMaker, born from the merger of leading desktop 3D printing brands MakerBot and UltiMaker, has cultivated a distinctive educational strategy that spans from kindergarten through professional development. Stewart noted that this "conglomeration" effectively merged MakerBot's K-12 focus with UltiMaker's emphasis on middle school, high school, and professional applications. 

This comprehensive approach allows UltiMaker to guide students through the entire 3D printing journey. Stewart explained, "We start kids learning about design thinking, about how to integrate empathetic problem-solving into their daily lives from a very early age." This early exposure ensures that by high school, students are already adept at working with advanced geometries and polymers, preparing them for future career challenges. Luce emphasized the importance of this early start, stating, "You don't want to plant the seed as a freshman. You want to plant that seed when they're five so that tree is growing by the time they get to high school." 

Why Companies Like UltiMaker Invest in Education 

The core of UltiMaker's philosophy is encapsulated in their mantra: "The student is our future." Stewart emphasized the critical need to engage children in STEM and STEM careers early on. She noted that while some schools might have a 3D printer tucked away in a special room or in the library, true integration comes from making the technology accessible and central to daily learning. 

Stewart described a powerful scenario: "When we work with schools that start in elementary school and that printer is right in their classroom, kids are like, 'You know what? My desk is kind of wobbly today. What am I going to do to fix that problem? Oh, you know what? Let me design something that I can actually fix that problem with.'" This immediate, hands-on problem-solving transforms 3D printing from a novelty into a practical tool. This early engagement aligns with global workforce demands. Stewart pointed out, "The World's Jobs Report says we need kids that can solve problems. 3D printing is one of the gateways to do that, but we have to get kids thinking that way early on." 

Real-World Impact: Calcasieu Public Schools 

Stewart shared a compelling example of the transformative impact of 3D printing in education taking place in Calcasieu Public Schools in Louisiana. Despite being a large geographic district with a moderate student population, they made a significant investment several years ago, placing over 450 UltiMaker machines in every elementary school classroom. Luce clarified, "Every classroom, not every school?" to which Stewart confirmed, "Every classroom." 

Stewart recounted her visits, where she witnessed kindergarteners and first graders discussing design iterations for their projects with remarkable sophistication. She described a classroom where students were solving the problem of pencils falling off tables by designing and printing pencil holders. The students were going through the entire design thinking process. 

Perhaps the most inspiring example was a community project where students interviewed residents of nearby eldercare facilities to understand their daily challenges. The students then returned to their classrooms to design and print solutions, such as tray holders for individuals with weakened grip or tools to help open doors. Stewart expressed her awe, saying, "When I look at something like that, they get it, right? This isn't about cookie cutters and all the fun things that you can make, but when you really start to see kids take this on as, ‘I'm going to solve a world problem’, that's pretty amazing."  

Additive Manufacturing: A Gateway to Advanced Manufacturing Careers 

Both Luce and Stewart see additive manufacturing as a crucial entry point into the broader world of advanced manufacturing. Luce emphasized, "Additive manufacturing for me is that gateway technology that plants the initial seed that manufacturing is pretty cool, there's a lot of technology going on here and maybe I can be involved in some way." 

Stewart highlighted the diverse job opportunities within additive manufacturing that students often overlook. While engineers who design products certainly use 3D printers, the applications extend much further. She posed a hypothetical scenario on a car manufacturing line when something fails. “That business could be losing millions of dollars every minute the line is down. However, if somebody knows 3D printing, you could actually create a part and put it right on the line. So that means that everybody in the factory has to understand what the possibilities are." Luce quipped, "Or call the local elementary school."  

The UltiMaker Scholarship: Paving the Way for Future Innovators 

A significant development in the partnership between UltiMaker and the SME Education Foundation is the establishment of the new UltiMaker Scholarship. Luce expressed gratitude for UltiMaker's trust and philanthropic objectives. 

Stewart explained the scholarship's genesis, stating that UltiMaker wanted to "pay back" and "spread the word to other schools and to other areas of education." This includes a pledge of over $500,000 this year to help schools initiate 3D printing programs. The scholarship, however, takes this commitment further. While UltiMaker provides a grant guide to help schools secure funding, they recognized the immense value of partnering with the SME Education Foundation, which offers a wide array of scholarships for students. 

The UltiMaker Scholarship is particularly focused on students from under-served communities who may lack access to 3D printers and advanced tools. Stewart stated, "We really did want to focus on students from marginalized communities, students that maybe don't have access to 3D printers or they don't have access to some of these advanced tools, but we want them to have the opportunity to go into one of these careers." This collaborative approach magnifies their impact. “If we do it in partnership with you and with other companies... It makes the mission bigger. It makes the pool bigger. Let's get as many kids excited as possible so that hopefully next year we can do even more." 

Advice for Educators: A Holistic Approach to Integrating New Technology 

For educators just beginning to incorporate additive manufacturing into their career and technical education (CTE) programs, Stewart offered invaluable advice. Her primary counsel is to look beyond cost. "Cost is one factor," she stated, "But there are a lot of other things that you need to think about because part of it is upkeep, part of it is the materials and the maintenance. You have to look at total training. You've got to look at total cost of ownership." 

Many early adopters of 3D printing failed to provide adequate training on curriculum integration and ownership. Stewart emphasized that the solution isn't a generic lesson plan, but rather a tailored approach that considers the specific educational context. 

Furthermore, she stressed the importance of equity and access, advocating for starting earlier than just CTE classrooms. "If they get to your classroom and they've never seen 3D printing, they're going to be limited on what they can do with that equipment," she explained. "But if they've started at kindergarten, they're going to be able to do some amazing things by the time they get to high school." 

Luce reinforced this with a sports analogy: "Kids don't decide to play soccer or football or basketball their freshman year of high school. They decide to make that choice or their parents make that choice for them when they're five years old and they come up through a system with coaches and training. By the time they get to their freshman year they're thinking about college and maybe, ‘Can I do this as a professional?’” The same progression, he argued, is needed in advanced manufacturing. 

Stewart also advised districts to adopt a cohesive program rather than allowing individual teachers to make isolated purchases. This involves standardizing CAD software and slicers to ensure a seamless progression for students. "You don't want to have 50 different kinds of brands and slicers," she cautioned. The goal is to prepare students to walk into companies like Ford or GM and be immediately proficient with the software they'll encounter. 

The partnership between UltiMaker and the SME Education Foundation is a testament to the power of collaboration in shaping the future workforce. By investing in early education and providing access to cutting-edge technology, they are not only fostering innovation but also creating pathways to exciting and impactful careers for the next generation. 

For more information on the UltiMaker Scholarship and the work of the SME Education Foundation, watch the full interview below. You may also reach out to SME for further details.