The Peru Gazette

Plattsburgh, NY – Nearly 100 tenth-grade students from seven area schools participated in TDC’s 4^th annual Manufacturing Experience Day on Tuesday March 31st, where they toured local manufacturers and explored the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM) at Clinton Community College. The immersive experience provided the students with valuable insights into the world of manufacturing and higher education, inspiring them for future career paths. TDC, Brilliant Pathways, and Clinton Community College joined together to partner on this STEM career-exploration event that engaged students from Northern Adirondack, Northeastern Clinton, Chateaugay, Keene, Moriah, Chazy, and Beekmantown.

Every student participated in two one-hour tours of manufacturing facilities such as Norsk Titanium, W Schonbek, MRP, Beta Technoloiges, Monaghan Medical, Alstom, BCI Lakeside and Schluter Systems. They were able to witness firsthand the intricate processes involved in manufacturing and learn about the cutting-edge technologies used in the production of various products across North Country industries; and were able to interact with engineers and technicians to gain a deeper understanding of the manufacturing industry. 

 The other half of the day was spent at Clinton Community College’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing. Here, the students participated in hands-on circuit board activities, virtual reality welding and Oculus career exploration provided by NYS Department of Labor, heard from a manufacturing careers panel comprised of young professionals from CV-TEC’s New Visions Applied Engineering program and Holly Black, CEO of Crossborder Development Corporation, and explored the IAM production floor, with support from IAM staff, SnapOn representatives, TDC staff, and CV-TEC young professionals. 

“Part of TDC’s mission is to attract and retain quality jobs within our industrial parks; part of that is making sure the community (including the next generation) understands what kind of opportunities are present here. We are so grateful to the employers that enthusiastically participate in events like this and open their doors to students, demystifying what a career in STEM could look like,” said Dani King, President and CEO, TDC.

“We at the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at Clinton Community College were excited to welcome tenth graders back to the facility for Manufacturing Experience Day. This type of hands-on experience not only brings awareness to the state-of-the-art facility right in their backyard here at the IAM, but also draws the connection between the educational and career pathways available in modern manufacturing,” said D. Billy Jones, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Workforce Development at Clinton Community College. “It is a wonderful opportunity to introduce North Country students to different careers and future prospects in a variety of North Country industries.”