Corridor working to join students, industry

(Photo submitted) Students work in the new engineering classroom at Armstrong-Ringsted Senior High School

The Instructional Forum and Career Fair will provide an opportunity to hear from welding instructors, employers and local manufacturers sharing their insight on the welding and fabrication industry.

Guest speakers include Jeff Merryman of Employment Connections, Inc., speaking on the topic of "Job Seeking Skills", Jamie Slipke of Rosenboom Machine & Tool, Inc., speaking about "Welding as a Career" and Dave Reed and Jeff Steiner, of Polaris Industries, Inc. will be discussing and demonstrating "Welding Technologies and Automation."

"The main objective is to develop those connections between area students and the manufacturers in the Corridor," said Shaun Arneson, vice president, Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation. "As a result of these connections, students realize there are career opportunities in the region."

"In our visits with manufacturers we find that there is a definite need for welders," said Arneson. "It is also important because of the investment in Industrial Technology and Metal Fabrication Machining programs made by area high schools."

Employers represented at the event will include Advance Service, Inc., Cycle Country Accessories Corp., Employment Connections, Inc., GKN Armstrong Wheels, Inc., Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC), Iowa Workforce Development, Linweld, Inc., Meridian Mfg. Co., NICC, Rosenboom Machine & Tool, Inc., and General Machine Works, Co.

Two area high schools in particular have made huge investments in the Industrial Technology programs in the past year. Armstrong-Ringsted and Spencer have completed huge renovations to their buildings and added new equipment for the students.

The Spencer Metal Technology program went through huge renovations last year. The renovations were made possible by an initiative of the Spencer Community School Foundation.

Local business and industry donated money, materials, time and tours for the shop. The Industrial Tech program has added a vertical milling machine, 4-dynamic lathes, horizontal bandsaw, bender package, drill sharpener and Chevalier vertical mills. Maurer Manufacturing donated metal, wire and two wire welders. Eaton Corporation provides tours for the students as well as additional tooling, metal and measurement gauges. Tecton Industries provides lathe set-up, leveling expertise and additional tooling.

"Our Industrial Technology Department has taken on a huge and exciting task. To design, develop, and implement a current and relevant metals technology curriculum with local manufacturing businesses, metal machining industries, and the General Machining program at NICC," said Scott Rettey, Industrial Technology Instructor. "Working with the local industry is key to our survival."

The Metal Technology courses are designed for the students who desire to make use of the skills needed to enter the machinist, welding, fabrication, sheet metal, or engineering fields.

The students enrolled in the Metal Technology curriculum have the opportunity to receive dual credit from area Community Colleges. They can receive credit in Welding from ILCC in Emmetsburg, Machining from NICC in Sheldon, and Advanced Machining at ICCC in Fort Dodge.

(Photo Submitted) Metal Fabrication and Machining offers students hands on classroom experience at Spencer High School

"Our goal is to provide a link to post-secondary education, and to participate and contribute to the vitality of economic growth in Northwest Iowa in an exciting and ever-changing technical manufacturing industry," said Rettey.

For Armstrong-Ringsted the overhaul process began in the shop with a great facelift. The shop was renovated and cleaned up, fresh paint and equipment were added with safety zones, a dust collector, and new metal works. New machines for metal works include a vertical mill engine lathe, foot shear metal cutter, pan and box brake, slip roll and a foundry to pour any type of mold out of molten metal.

"The shop never had any of this equipment, so getting it all in one year is just astounding. We are so proud," said Steve Waldstein, Industrial Arts teacher.

An old storage room was renovated to become the new engineering classroom. Drafting tables and CAD systems were added to offer students the opportunity to learn hands-on drafting as well as computer supported drafting.

The Industrial Technology program has extensive classes being offered to the students. New classes such as Manufacturing Enterprise, Research and Development, Power and Energy as well as four new Technology Classes have been added to the curriculum.

"The technology classes are helping students to live in a technical world. We consider that to be 'Technology Literacy'," said Waldstein. "We have a well rounded program offering vocational classes and technology classes."

The programs work in collaboration with the manufacturing industries in the area, such as Arts-Way Mfg., GKN Armstrong Wheels, Inc. and TG Industries, Inc. "The companies tell us what they would like us to teach -- so the students are well-educated and prepared when they leave our classes," said Waldstein. "This will help the industries in town and hopefully the kids can get a summer internship with these companies because of what they have learned."

"Our school district sees the importance of this program -- importance to our students and our community," said Waldstein. "We have vision towards the future."

Another collaborative effort is working with the Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) and generating interest for students in the wind turbine program offered there. The Alternative Energy class focuses on renewable energy sources. One of the resources for that class is the Green Energy Machine, which is able to produce electricity by wind and/or solar energy. The machine is on loan from the ILCC, but the school has applied for grant money to pay for a machine of their own.