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AIST Foundation Raises US$1.3 Million for Steel Industry Programs

The AIST Foundation board of trustees thanks its many benefactors for their generous contributions, including: ArcelorMittal, Cliffs Natural Resources, CMC Americas, Gerdau, Hatch, Nucor Corp., SSAB, Steel Dynamics Inc. and United States Steel Corporation. Other significant donors to the campaign included the AIST Northeastern Ohio and Pittsburgh Member Chapters. The overall campaign included a Matching Funds Challenge from the AIST Board of Directors, which contributed US$650,000 to the effort.

Fred Harnack, AIST Foundation president, and general manager — environmental affairs for United States Steel Corporation, commented, "I am very pleased the AIST Foundation was able to successfully conclude the Matching Funds Challenge for 2013. I would like to thank all the individuals and companies that contributed, helping us to exceed both our original goal of US$500,000 and our 'stretch goal' of US$650,000. This outcome, in addition to the AIST Foundation’s match, represents a strong statement of support and endorsement from our industry for the AIST Foundation’s mission of service. The success of our fundraising efforts will allow the AIST Foundation to grow our current programs and consider new opportunities that will serve and benefit the North American steel industry."

Dick Teets, AIST Foundation trustee and scholarship committee chair, and executive vice president for Steel Dynamics Inc., added, "Like all of the contributors, Steel Dynamics is committed to the next generation of steel professionals. By partnering with the AIST Foundation through scholarships and educational programs, it is our goal to provide continued support to talented and dedicated students pursuing engineering and science careers within the iron and steel industries."

"The AIST Northeastern Ohio Member Chapter is grateful for all the hard work from its members to secure these funds across our region through the years, and to ensure that future generations will have an opportunity to take advantage of our scholarships to support education in the fields that sustain our industry," said Bryan Mikula, plant manager – Louisville Plant, ATI Allegheny Ludlum.

The AIST Foundation is a Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation organized for charitable, education and scientific purposes to attract technology-oriented professionals to the steel industry by educating the public about the high-tech, diverse and rewarding nature of careers in steel manufacturing. Through a variety of programs, the AIST Foundation awards over US$600,000 annually in programs and grants to students, instructors and schools to ensure the iron and steel industry of tomorrow will have a sufficient number of qualified professionals.


The AIST Foundation is part of the Association for Iron & Steel Technology, an international technical association representing more than 16,000 professional and student members from 70 countries. For more information about the AIST Foundation, visit AISTFoundation.org.