At the Advanced Manufacturing Career Day, high school students talk with VGCC Applied Technologies Department Chair Wesley Williams while two of his Electronics Engineering Technology students, Christopher Woods of Warrenton (third from left) and Joshua Williford of Oxford (fourth from left), demonstrate an industrial-style educational robot system. (VGCC photo)
Manufacturing is alive and well in North Carolina and is increasingly sophisticated, as local high school students recently learned at a Vance-Granville Community College event. The college held an Advanced Manufacturing Career Day in the VGCC Civic Center on April 9, during North Carolina Manufacturing Awareness Week (April 8-12, 2013).
Approximately 400 high school students from Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties attended in order to learn more about future job opportunities and the training that could prepare them for technical careers. VGCC’s Industry Services and Applied Technologies departments organized the event in partnership with career and technical education departments from the four county public school systems. Instructors and students from VGCC’s Bioprocess Technology, Electrical/Electronics Technology, Electronics Engineering Technology, Human Resources Development, Small Business Center and Welding Technology programs told the high school students about how they could continue their education and develop skills needed in high-tech manufacturing. Manufacturers and other vendors from throughout the region also set up booths as part of the fair, providing information on careers and demonstrating the latest industrial technologies. Participants included CaptiveAire of Youngsville, Dill Air Controls Products of Oxford, K-Flex USA of Youngsville, CertainTeed of Oxford, Shalag of Oxford, Glen Raven Mills of Norlina, Qualified Staffing of Wake Forest, Hi-Tech Fabrication of Raleigh, Altec of Creedmoor, P&G/Iams of Henderson, Eaton Corp. of Youngsville, MPACT Maintenance Solutions of Greensboro, and Learning Labs of Morrisville, which featured their 3-d printing machine. Another special guest was the Engineering Team from Northern Vance High School, demonstrating their award-winning Sirocco Innovative Computer Cleaner project.
Participating businesses expressed their satisfaction with the event. “It’s important that students understand what is required in the workforce and what industries need,” said Mike O’Brian, training supervisor from CertainTeed, which has hired many VGCC graduates in the past. “The economy is gaining steam and our manufacturing is likely to expand. We opened our facility in 1978, so many of the longtime employees are now retiring, and there will be a need for workers due to that turnover in the next five to ten years.” Similarly, Vanessia Cooke-Alvarado, human resources manager from Dill Air Controls, emphasized, “We are still making things in the United States! We have a full-fledged manufacturing facility in Oxford.” She was pleased that the event allowed her to educate attendees about what her company offers and the types of employees they need, and she hoped that as a result, “this may give some kids some direction about their future.” Melvin Hargrove, Glen Raven’s manufacturing manager, said the event was “a win-win for the college and for the manufacturers” because students learned that textile manufacturing jobs still exist in the area, while employers learned more about what was on the minds of students regarding careers and education. Catherine Harris, human resources manager from Glen Raven, was impressed by many of the students “because they know exactly what they want to do with their careers.” She lauded VGCC’s industry programs, which she said frequently provide classes for her company, including electrical, management and safety training.