Professional Associations
Each industry often has one or more state or national Associations. Members of these Associations are committed to their profession, serve as subject matter experts, and often offer networking and ongoing training for their membership. While there is often a yearly membership cost, student memberships are greatly reduced (often less than $50 per year).
The connections students make within an Association can stay with them throughout their lifetime. They are often a source of camaraderie and where future job openings within that industry are shared. There may even be a student club at WCC tied to that Association. If not, students can still join the state or national Association as an individual member. If unsure about which Association to join, speak with a faculty member about which would be the best fit for your short and long-term goals.
ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Individual student membership is $25, but is free for first year students.
AMPP – Association for Materials Protection and Performance (national group)
MI chapter
They offer a scholarship, and WCC students can apply.
AWA - American Welding Association
A national association that offers free student membership.
There is also a Detroit chapter. (In the 2022-2023 school year the AWS Detroit Section awarded 33 welding scholarships
totaling $64,000.)
Engineering Society of Detroit
$29 for Student Membership
Latinos in Science and Engineering
Students can join as “at large” for $10 per year. See this link for info on applying.
National Society of Professional Engineers
Engineering and pre-engineering majors can join for free.
Student can also connect with the MI Chapter for free.
NIASE (ASE) Automotive Service Excellence
Offers ASE certification exams.
Out to Innovate
is a professional society for LGBTQ+ people in STEM, and their allies. Students can
join for only $10 per year. They also offer scholarships for members.
SACNAS
National organization advancing Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. Students can join for $25/year. Offers conference scholarships to yearly conference
and professional development.
Skills USA – National Association
Join a local chapter, and you are then part of the National Association.
Skills USA – Michigan Chapter
Student membership is $14 each. Contact lead instructor Alex Pazkowski for information.
Society of Automotive Engineers
Student can join for $35 per year.
SME- Society of Manufacturing Engineers
No student chapter at WCC, but individual student membership is $20 and gives access
to job fairs.
Students can join for $20 per year.
Society of Women Engineers
Cost for students is a one time $50 fee, which also gives you an additional one year
after graduation. They offer more than 250 scholarships to students each year.
American Association of Medical Assistants (national group)
Students can join for $36 per year.
Michigan Society of Medical Assistants
American Dental Assistants Association
Cost $35/$45 with insurance to join for one year
American Society of Radiologic Technologist
Students can join for $35 per year.
Michigan Society of Radiologic Technologist
Students can join for $10 per year.
American Physical Therapy Association, Michigan chapter
$80 to join national association
$10 to join MI association
Association of Surgical Technologist
Reach out to instructor for advice on individual membership or bundling with exam
and study guide.
Michigan Dental Association
No membership fees.
National Student Nurses’ Association
Students can join for $27 for one year + state dues
Women in FIRE
(Women firefighters) No student membership, but individuals can join ($100/year) or
departments can join.
American Assembly of Men in Nursing (AAMN) is a national group for men in nursing. WCC is one of only two student chapters in the state of MI! Reach out to chapter advisor Benjamin Morhan at [email protected] for details on joining AAMN. Do this after you are admitted into the nursing program.
Washtenaw Economic Club - $100 per year to join as Young Leaders, can attend 2 meetings.
American Marketing Association (national)
Detroit area Chapter
Women in Business can join the Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw for monthly meetings in downtown Ann Arbor to network and support one another. No student or yearly rate, but events are $30 - $40 each month. Come when you can.
Michigan Press Association - $10 for student membership
National Press Photographers Association - $75 for student membership
The Association for Women in Communications, Detroit Chapter (has members from all over SE Michigan) – currently revising membership structure, but should be affordable for students.
Scholarships
Many associations offer scholarships, however typically you must join the association as a student. Check out the Professional Associations section above for more info. For the SME scholarships mentioned below, students do NOT need to join the association.
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Education Foundation offers over $1 million in scholarships each year to thousands of students. Open to high schools seniors and current students in associate, bachelor, and graduate degrees in manufacturing, engineering, or related programs. Students can be part-time or full-time students, but must have at least a 2.0 GPA. Scholarships can be used for tuition, fees, lab, book or course fees. Awards range from $2,500 – $20,000.
While there are 60 different scholarships, students only need to complete ONE application for all eligible scholarships.
Learn more about SME Education Foundation scholarships or begin the application at the SME Education Foundation website.
Scholarship applications are accepted each year from Nov. 1 – Feb. 1.