Press

The Shop Rat Foundation Partners With SolidWorks Corporation

Jackson, Michigan ~ February 11th, 2008
The Shop Rat Foundation is proud to announce its partnership with the SolidWorks Corporation. SolidWorks is the leader in 3D CAD technology, empowering product design teams with intuitive, high performance software that is easy to use, and provides the freedom to design products. SolidWorks is providing every Shop Rat Education Program with the SolidWorks Education Edition Software. The SolidWorks Education Edition 2007 brings the latest in 3D CAD software, COSMOS Design Analysis software, and comprehensive courseware ... more

Shop Rats Story Aired on NPR

Jackson, Michigan ~ November 9th, 2007
Grading Michigan Schools: Shop Rat Nation Lester Graham To listen to this radio spot please visit http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1180152§ionID=1 and click Listen. ANN ARBOR, MI (2007-11-09) It's the first day of a weekend class at this machine shop near Pleasant Lake in south central Michigan. Advanced milling machines, programmable drills and other metal fabrication equipment line the walls in the brightly lit shop. The students are junior high-school age. They're hearing the dos and don'ts of working ... more

Whats Really Happening During the 2007/2008 Shop Rat Education Program?

Jackson, Michigan ~ October 8th, 2007
Check out what cool things we have been doing so far in the 2007/2008 program! Class One: We began class with introductions of all the students and the teachers revealing a bit of information about why we were in the program and other personal information. Next we moved into a safety and behavior workshop. Once we were finished we completed a model Hovercraft HANDS ON PROJECT that taught the students how to construct a small model hovercraft ... more

Shop Rat Donates Custom Wheelchair to Foote Hospital

Jackson, Michigan ~ September 4th, 2007
The Shop Rat Foundation and three of the Shop Rat Education Program students, Billy Dunn, David Tracy and Derrick Miller donated two custom wheelchairs to Jackson's Foote Hospital Pediatric Ward. The Shop Rat Students personally took the chairs to the ward and even took a couple of patients for a spin in the 'chopper' and 'police' wheelchair that the Shop Rat Education Program customized as a part of the Spring Program. Check out the rest of the ... more

Manufacturers Day at the Races

Jackson, Michigan ~ August 23rd, 2007
On August 18th 2007, the Shop Rat Foundation, Jackson Area Manufacturing Association and the Michigan Manufactures Association joined together and celebrated Michigan Manufacturing with the first annual "Manufacturers Day at the Races." During the CARFAX 250 at the Michigan International Speedway, many gathered under and around the JAMA Hospitality tent and enjoyed the beautiful sunny August day. From beginning to end, from ... more

The Shop Rat Foundation awards Jack Roush with the 2007 Master Shop Rat of the Year Award at the August 18th NASCAR Busch Series CARFAX 250 Race

Jackson, Michigan ~ July 13th, 2007
The Shop Rat Foundation, Michigan Manufactures Association (MMA) and the Jackson Area Association (JAMA) Manufacturing have teamed up to raise money for the Shop Rat Education Program with the "Manufacturers Day at the Races". "This is not just a great networking opportunity for Michigan Manufacturers," said JAMA Executive Director Bill Rayl. "It's also an opportunity to celebrate the importance of manufacturing to Michigan's economy and to the world of performance racing. After all, there wouldn't be ... more

Shop Rat provides Hands on Project at the 2007 Spring Arbor Learning Fair

Jackson, Michigan ~ June 15th, 2007
Shop Rat provides Hands on Project at the 2007 Spring Arbor Learning Fair The Shop Rat Foundation is Partnering with Classic Turning to provide a hands on project at the fourteenth annual Learning Fair--one of the area’s largest technology fairs the whole family will enjoy, July 19th and 20th. The Learning Fair provides a unique, hands-on opportunity to explore technology and the arts--demonstrated by gifted craftsmen and dynamic companies from across Jackson County and Michigan! The ... more

Shop Rat Teaching Camp-goers How to Build Hovercrafts

Jackson, Michigan ~ June 14th, 2007
Shop Rat Teaching Camp-goers How to Build Hovercrafts Fourth, fifth and six graders attending the 2007 I can Make It Camp are in for a big treat during their July 9 – 13 stay. The Shop Rat Foundation is donating and teaching the students how to construct hovercrafts. These hovercrafts will be created from separate parts that attach and detach like building blocks to encourage experiments. Each hovercraft kit can be put together in numerous different ... more

Getting a Chopper Education

Jackson, Michigan ~ June 13th, 2007
Check out this article about our Shop Rat Friends in Alabama and the Wheels of Thunder Event. Copy the following link and paste it in your address bar to read the article! http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/articles/2007/06/13/lifestyles/life04.txt ... more

Shop Rat at Jackson Wheels of Thunder

Jackson, Michigan ~ June 12th, 2007
Shop Rat at Jackson Wheels of Thunder The 2007 Jackson Wheels of Thunder turned out to be a fantastic event that celebrated the art of motorcycles. The key to this event is that it did not only celebrate motorcycles, but that it brought together families from all around to enjoy coney dog contests, stunt shows, and the Shop Rat Foundation Bike Build off. The students from the Shop Rat Program in Munith, Michigan and the Shop ... more

SHOP RAT FOUNDATION DONATES CUSTOMIZED MOTORCYCLE

Jackson, Michigan ~ January 24th, 2007
SHOP RAT FOUNDATION DONATES CUSTOMIZED MOTORCYCLE TO SLD LEARNING CENTER Customized Motorcycle to be Presented at the International Auto Show in Grand Rapids! Jackson, Michigan – The Shop Rat Foundation is proud to announce a phenomenal donation to the Specialized Language Development (SLD) Learning Center of a customized motorcycle valued at $75,000.00 built by young Shop Rats in grades 7th – 12th. SLD will be selling $50 Raffle tickets through June of 2007. Proceeds will go ... more

Shop Rat Plans to Bring "Cool" Factor to Education at Armory Arts Project

Jackson, Michigan ~ December 19th, 2006
This Thursday, October 26th, Shop Rat Associates will share its vision for involvement in the Creative Industries aspect of the Armory Arts Project at a reception to be held at ART 634 located at 634 N. Mechanic St. The reception will be hosted by The Jackson Area Manufacturers Association (JAMA), the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce, and The Enterprise Group of Jackson. Comerica Bank is sponsoring the event. Neeta Delaney, Director of the Armory Arts Project, ... more

Bobby Allison ~ Shop Rat #12

Jackson, Michigan ~ November 19th, 2006
Bobby Allison has become a Shop Rat Founding Member, choosing his favorite #12 as his membership number. Allison first learned about a new association called Shop Rat in July at MIS while in town to be inducted into the Jackson RaceWeek Walk of Fame. He was so impressed by the concept that he asked founder, Chris Salow, to not only be a Founding Member, but to become one of the Association's spokespersons. This elite membership will only ... more

Introducing The Shop Rat Founders Club

Jackson, Michigan ~ November 18th, 2006
Shop Rat Associates announced today the introduction of the Shop Rat Founders Club. This elite membership will only have 1,913 members. "The number 1,913 is significant because this represents the year Henry Ford (the ultimate Shop Rat) introduced the first "automated" assembly line, revolutionizing the industrial world", stated Chris Salow the founder of Shop Rat. "Our goal is to build a community of young Shop Rats who will excel in challenging careers dedicated to creative and innovative ... more