WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Pennsylvania College of Technology will expose high schoolers to the rewarding possibilities of manufacturing careers, thanks to a grant-supported initiative.
The college will host the Thingamajig Fabricators Pre-College Program from July 19-23 on its main campus. Students entering grades 9-12 are eligible for the session, featuring hands-on experience with 3D-design software, mills and lathes, and welding. Participants will use their new skills to fabricate a toolbox, hammer and nail punch.
Penn College faculty will lead individual workshops, which will be complemented by tours of regional manufacturing sites.
The program is supported by a $2,500 grant from Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs, the foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International.
“We are very excited to offer this new program for the benefit of high school students,” said Bradley M. Webb, dean of industrial, computing and engineering technologies, who spearheaded the college’s grant application. “There are tremendous opportunities in manufacturing for fulfilling careers. We are hopeful that through this undertaking more high school students and their parents will come to appreciate the realities and benefits of a career in manufacturing.”
The National Association of Manufacturers estimates that 500,000 manufacturing jobs are currently open, and by 2028, about 4.8 million jobs will need to be filled in the sector. In 2018, the average manufacturing worker earned more than $27 per hour (not including benefits), according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“Many of our students who graduate with a manufacturing-related associate or bachelor’s degree have multiple job offers well before receiving their diploma,” Webb said. “Their technical skill set is in high demand. They truly are tomorrow makers.”
The cost of the Thingamajig Fabricators Pre-College Program is $325 and covers all activities, meals and on-campus housing. Registration information is available at www.pct.edu/thingamajig.
Students who complete the program and eventually enroll at Penn College will be eligible to receive $1,000 off their tuition per year.
For information on Penn College’s various manufacturing degrees and other programs offered by the School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, visit www.pct.edu/icet or call 570-327-4520.
Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education. Visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free at 800-367-9222.