Five students in State Fair Community College’s Precision Machining completed the program’s first Work Experience Week, a new curriculum component that provides students the chance to work a week alongside machinists to experience the “real-world” work environment. Ideal Tool & Manufacturing, Nucor Steel Sedalia and Starline Brass were the industry partners.
The students in Introduction to CNC Programming who participated were Sean McCormick, of Boonville; Shae Childers, of Windsor; Dezirae Knibb, of Harrisonville; and Brett Hockett and John Gallo, both from Sedalia. All students are required to participate in Work Experience Week unless they are already employed in a machining career. At the start of the semester, students were given a list of companies from which to choose, on a first-come, first-served basis, where they wanted to do their Work Experience Week (WEW).
Justin Wright, SFCC’s Precision Machining Technology program coordinator and instructor, said WEW was added to the curriculum to give students and employers a chance to connect outside of the classroom. During that week, students shadowed company machinists, performed tasks under supervision, attended safety meetings, and toured the shops. Some of the experienced machinists with whom the students worked were graduates of SFCC’s Precision Machining Technology program.
“The students and industry partners gave us a ton of real positive feedback at the end of the week,” said Wright. “This was a great opportunity for students and employers to connect and for the students to experience a ‘real’ work week and apply the skills and knowledge they have acquired in the classroom. I think it’s safe to say that both sides saw this as a big hit!”
SFCC’s Precision Machining program is accredited by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills. To learn more, visit www.sfccmo.edu/precision-machining or contact Wright at jwright4@sfccmo.edu.
