For Immediate Release
Tuesday, January 31, 2012

CLEVELAND, Ohio, January 31, 2012 — Tooling U partners with schools across the country to impact training for the next generation of skilled manufacturers. Tooling U's Platinum Education Centers (TUPECs) are programs that exemplify dedication and resources to training in the manufacturing community. The programs were selected based on: adoption of Tooling U's online training program, strong utilization rates of online training in a blended learning format, and ongoing successful referrals in the education community.

The 12 programs that are now recognized as TUPECs are:

• Bates Technical College (WA)
• Ben Franklin Career Center (WV)
• Diamond Oaks Career Center (OH)
• Foothill-De Anza Community College District (CA)
• Indiana County Technology Center (PA)
• Lake Washington Institute of Technology (WA)
• Muskegon Community College (MI)
• Tennessee Technology Center at Newbern (TN)
• Tennessee Technology Center at Covington (TN) (two programs)
• Toledo Technology Academy (OH)
• Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College (UT)

Tooling U created TUPEC status to recognize the strong partnerships established with its educational customers. According to Tooling U's Toni Neary, Business Development-Education Specialist, "[Our education customers] definitely are true partners. We are very fortunate to work with these programs because they are producing the next generation of skilled manufacturers."

The partnerships between Tooling U and its customers depend on a blended-learning solution, which combines online training with hands-on instruction and lab work. Adds Neary, "Ultimately, technical training needs the combination of knowledge and skills. Partnered with our TUPECs, Tooling U delivers a portion of the knowledge online while the state-of-the-art labs and classrooms deliver the needed skills through hands-on learning."

Tooling U anticipates that the 12 winners of the TUPEC award will be followed by additions each quarter, depending on how many new schools meet the criteria.

About Tooling U:
Tooling U, a company of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), is the leading developer of online training for manufacturing companies and educational institutions. Tooling U offers more than 400 easy-to-use, industry-driven, web-based classes that engage learners and boost morale and results. More than 1,200 organizations across the globe employ Tooling U to reap measurable improvements in knowledge and productivity. In addition to Tooling U online content, SME offers professional development resources. When combined as a blended learning solution, Tooling U and SME training offers unmatched results for today's manufacturers.

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