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Belleville, IL – Project MFG proudly celebrates the successful completion of the first-ever 2025 National Machining League Championship, hosted at Southwestern Illinois College’s state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Facility. This groundbreaking competition brought together the nation’s most promising young machinists to showcase their CNC and machining skills, reinforcing the importance of skilled trades in today’s workforce.
The National Machining League is a premier, high-school-level individual competition designed to test students’ abilities in CNC machining, including up to 3-axis surfacing. High schools across North America had the opportunity to register up to three students to compete, challenging them to demonstrate critical thinking, resource management, and technical machining skills.
Masters of CNC Competition
Alongside the 2025 National Machining League Championship, Southwestern Illinois College hosted a Masters of CNC Competition, where seven talented local high school students put their machining skills to the ultimate test.
Participants had just eight hours to program and machine a final project, demonstrating their precision, efficiency, and problem-solving abilities under real-world conditions. After an intense day of competition, Janieel Patel from Fort Zumwalt West High School emerged as the champion, securing first place and taking home the grand prize of $2,500.
National Machining League
Over the course of three intense days, competitors in the National Machining League Championship showcased their skills, dedication, and passion for advanced manufacturing. Each participant had just 8 hours to program and 8 hours to machine their projects—all while taking part in an exclusive industry tour designed to connect them with leading professionals in the field.
The tour included visits to Seyer Industries, a premier aerospace company, followed by Chelar Tool & Die and General Machine, where students gained valuable insight into the industry. More than just a competition, Project MFG’s missionis to elevate the next generation of skilled trade professionals by providing education, networking opportunities, and hands-on experience with real-world industry leaders.
In the end, every competitor delivered an outstanding performance, but only one could take home the national title. Congratulations to Semmy Badenhop from Saline High School, who was crowned the first-ever National Machining League Champion—earning both the prestigious title and a $10,000 grand prize.
The competition also celebrated the achievements of other top finishers:
🥈 2nd Place: Kevin Foster, Lebanon County Career & Technical Center – $5,000 prize
🥉 3rd Place: Carter Nagel, Bucks County Technical High School – $2,500 prize
Reflecting on the competition, Badenhop shared,
“We all walked in with a large level of unknowns because you come from your home school where you maybe have one or two mini-mills, and then you come to Southwestern Illinois College where they’ve got a $20 million brand-new shop. But at the end of the day, it was still such a fun competition—and win, lose, or draw, you still get to come and gain this new experience.”
Project MFG remains committed to empowering the next generation of skilled trade professionals by providing opportunities for hands-on experience, technical skill development, and national recognition. As the National Machining League continues to grow, Project MFG looks forward to expanding its reach and fostering a new era of excellence in the manufacturing industry.
Event Photos
about Southwestern illinois College
Established in 1946, Southwestern Illinois College serves the more than 300,000 residents of Community College District 522 through campuses in Belleville, Granite City and Red Bud plus numerous off-campus sites, including Scott Air Force Base and the East St. Louis Higher Education Center.
SWIC offers more than 150 affordable degree and certificate program options – including online and accelerated courses – for students who want to transfer to a university or prepare to enter the workforce
Visit their website to learn more!
about project mfg
Project MFG is a catalyst that helps elevate the next generation of highly skilled trade professionals by changing mindsets, fostering community preparedness, and challenging how the critical skills needed to succeed in modern advanced manufacturing are taught. Through single and multiple technology competitions, participants gain hands-on experience with the latest technology and support from subject matter experts
For more information about Project MFG competitions and future events, please visit projectmfg.com or contact marketing@projectmfg.com.
