Hypertherm is now accepting applications for its Spark Something Great educational grant program.
This year, in response to demand and school need, Hypertherm is expanding the program to 12 schools in the United States and Canada. Winning schools will receive a Hypertherm Powermax45 XP plasma system, the full AWS SENSE approved Plasma Cutting Technology: Theory and Practice curriculum kit, and in-person training from a Hypertherm plasma expert.
The program, now in its fifth year, is meant to support the next generation of welders and metal fabricators by making the newest generation of plasma cutting equipment and standardized instruction available to schools. To date, the company has awarded systems to 40 schools. This year, applications are due on or before April 1 with grant decisions communicated by May 1. More information, including instructions for applying, are available at Hypertherm’s website .
In addition to the grant program, Hypertherm will continue to make all ten hours of its AWS SENSE approved Plasma Cutting Technology: Theory and Practice curriculum available for free download to teachers. The curriculum covers the plasma cutting process, common industrial uses for plasma systems, the differences between various cutting methods, safety procedures, as well as proper setup and operation. Electronic versions of each lesson, a facilitator’s guide, student workbook, and supporting reference material are all available online. To date, teachers from more than 2,000 schools have taken advantage of the free download helping standardize the teaching of plasma cutting to tens of thousands of students.
