The Gateway Academy, a nationwide initiative of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Education Foundation, has received the endorsement of the Academy of Engineering (AOE) — a dynamic partnership between the National Academy Foundation (NAF), the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) and Project Lead The Way® (PLTW).

The partnership of these three organizations focuses on recruiting more high school students to choose careers in engineering and engineering technology; increasing participation of women and minorities, and preparing high school graduates to enter post-secondary engineering programs fully competent in the required mathematics, science and technical subjects.

The Society of Manufacturing Engineering Foundation will provide funding at Academy of Engineering sites in the summer of 2009.