Budding Welders and Fabricators to Compete for FMA Scholarships and SolidWorks Software

CONCORD, Mass., USA, Oct. 7, 2008 – Do high school students have what it takes to become professional sheet metal fabricators at one of the Big Three automakers? How about highly skilled welders working in the defense industry? Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. (DS SolidWorks) and the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), want to know, and they’re co-sponsoring a contest that will offer scholarships and SolidWorks 3D CAD software to students who want to pursue those careers.

DS SolidWorks and FMA are teaming to help combat the growing shortage of skilled fabricators, sheet metal workers, welders, etc., by sponsoring the “GO-Brennan” contest, named after Brennan Palmiter, a 16-year-old professional race car driver and aspiring welder working toward professional certification. Contestants who submit a short video on YouTube will vie for one of 25 $500 scholarships to a two-year trade or technical school of their choice for classes in welding or other metal fabricating processes. These winners will also receive a free license of SolidWorks Student Edition software, including SolidWorks 3D CAD and SolidWorks Simulation design validation software.

“We see new studies almost every week that depict the grim horizon for manufacturing jobs in this country,” said Terrence Egan, director of the FMA Foundation. “Brennan serves as a role model for what students can achieve, and what we’re hoping will be a spark for increasing the pool of skilled labor for the manufacturing industry. Co-sponsoring this contest with SolidWorks is taking a positive step toward that goal.”

To qualify for the competition, students must plan to attend a two-year trade or technical school next spring for classes in welding or other metal fabricating processes. To enter, students should log onto the “GO-Brennan” video on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-lQPm7gf6I. During the video, they’ll be instructed to submit a short video (about a minute) explaining why they want to be in manufacturing, what career they seek, and where they want to attend school. They’ll also be encouraged to include footage of themselves welding or building with metal. The deadline to post videos is Nov. 9 and winners will be announced on Nov. 24.

“FMA definitely has the most immediate grasp of the critical need to attract students Brennan’s age to fabrication and manufacturing jobs,” said Marie Planchard, director of worldwide education markets. “SolidWorks continues to sponsor education initiatives like these to fuel student interest in engineering and manufacturing careers which, in turn, will benefit companies across the country.”

About Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Foundation

The FMA Foundation is a charitable organization that offers grants to not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions introducing young people to metal forming careers in manufacturing, provides funding to organizations starting or expanding manufacturing camps for youth, and issues scholarships to students at colleges and trade schools pursuing careers in manufacturing. More information on the foundation is available by visiting http://www.fma-foundation.org/.

About Dassault Systèmes

Dassault Systèmes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, provides business and people with virtual universes to imagine sustainable innovations.  Its world-leading solutions transform the way products are designed, produced, and supported.  Dassault Systèmes’ collaborative solutions foster social innovation, expanding possibilities for the virtual world to improve the real world.  The group brings value to over 150,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries.  For more information, visit www.3ds.com.