Manufacturing Day is a nationwide celebration of modern manufacturing designed to inspire the next generation of creators and innovators. As part of the event, students toured local industry partners’ facilities, including Adirondack Studios, Creatacor, Fort Miller Group and GlobalFoundries. Before departing for the tours, they took part in a student and industry panel featuring PTECH alumni who shared their experiences and insights into careers in manufacturing.
When students returned to campus, they explored interactive exhibits, participated in hands-on activities and attended demonstrations led by area STEAM and manufacturing businesses, SUNY Adirondack professors, WSWHE BOCES instructors, and current ECCA and PTECH students. They also heard an industry presentation by Maurice O’Connell of Adirondack Studios.
A hands-on skills challenge, led by Advanced Manufacturing instructor Mr. Simpson, gave students the task of building a cage for an egg using only toothpicks, hot glue and one handkerchief. The finished structure had to weigh less than 100 grams and fit inside a 3-inch cylinder. After 20 minutes of build time, the eggs were launched from an air cannon. Three eggs survived, with the winning egg traveling 56.5 feet.
Companies participating in the interactive campus event included Barton Mines, Cambridge Valley Machining, Curtis Lumber, Finch Paper, Fort Miller, Irving Tissue, Praxis and the Warren County Career Center.
PTECH is a unique six-year program that provides high school students with the experiences, practical skills, qualifications and credentials they need to pursue rewarding careers in technology-based industries. The Southern Adirondack PTECH is a partnership between local high schools, WSWHE BOCES, SUNY Adirondack and area industry partners.
Students enter the program as ninth graders and work toward earning both a Regents high school diploma and an associate degree from SUNY Adirondack. This is all at no cost to the student’s family.
To learn more about the PTECH programs, click here.
To visit the Facebook album for photos of this year’s Manufacturing Day, click here.