FLATE’s outreach efforts have a
multi-faceted role in reaching out to diverse populations across the state. Over
the years, FLATE has partnered with a wide cross section of institutions and
individuals from all socio-economic backgrounds to facilitate and promote technician
education and training throughout Florida. Most recently, FLATE assumed a principal
role in implementing this “Dream It, Do It” (DIDI) campaign strategy in
Florida.
As part of this effort, FLATE
together with the Manufacturing Institute and South Florida Manufacturers
Association (SFMA) hosted the Young Manufacturers Academy (YMA) at Miami Lakes
Education Center. The initiative was funded through the National Partnership
grant through the Motorola Solutions Foundation Innovation Generation program.
The program is aimed at engaging youth in STEM and represents an extension of
Motorola’s “Supporting a Manufacturing Renaissance” efforts. The camp also
aligns closely with FLATE’s own summer robotics camp initiative said Executive
Director of FLATE, Dr. Marilyn Barger.
The academy was held July 28-Aug. 1
and was offered to 16 middle school girls from Honey Shine Mentoring program in
Miami Lakes, FL. Honey Shine, is a local non-profit
organization that provides services and mentoring
to under-served girls in the community. “This provided an opportunity
to reach out to students that might not normally find out about, or have an
opportunity to participate in programs such as DIDI YMA” said Melissa
Fernandez, camp teacher who also played a leading role in facilitating the
program in the Miami Lakes region.
Activities
centered on hands-on projects and simulation-based learning that focused on
developing skills
needed to prepare students for today's high-tech workplace.
During the camp students learned about latest manufacturing concepts, CNC
manufacturing, and got an overview of high-tech, high-paying jobs in Florida.
Participants also engaged in a mock career fair capstone event, and went on
industry tours featuring on-site interaction with manufacturers and get a
first-hand view of high-tech manufacturing operations. Phil Centonze, SFMA
member and FLATE’s external evaluator also attended the tour and talked to
campers about manufacturing in the Miami area.
In
addition to hands-on activities, campers also got to meet Patrick Claeys,
senior mechanical engineer at
Motorola who volunteered to serve as a guest
speaker. “His visit early in the week introduced the girls to jobs, products,
and ideas they didn't know existed” said Fernandez. Following his speech,
campers were able to make connections between what they were doing to the
real-world. A
noteworthy aspect of the camp, according to Melissa, was to observe how students
adapted to the “vocabulary” and were able to discuss CNC operators/programmers,
engage in manufacturing processes and then operate a make-believe manufacturing
factory.
Motorola who volunteered to serve as a guest
speaker. “His visit early in the week introduced the girls to jobs, products,
and ideas they didn't know existed” said Fernandez. Following his speech,
campers were able to make connections between what they were doing to the
real-world. A
noteworthy aspect of the camp, according to Melissa, was to observe how students
adapted to the “vocabulary” and were able to discuss CNC operators/programmers,
engage in manufacturing processes and then operate a make-believe manufacturing
factory.
Then too, one
of the most significant camp successes came at the
end when six of the campers separately approached the camp instructor to ask
for more information regarding high school programs that emphasized STEM and/or
offered CTE programs in engineering. Other successes included introducing the
students to 3D CAD by way of using SolidWorks to create small custom key chains.
“In this way students were introduced to 3D CAD, rapid prototyping, casting,
and additive manufacturing” Melissa said.
The Young Manufacturers Academy introduces
students entering grades 7 – 9 to all facets of the
manufacturing industry. The Academy is part of the "Dream It! Do It!" initiative, a national career awareness and outreach campaign designed to promote a positive image of manufacturing that is sponsored by the Manufacturing Institute in Washington, D.C. The primary goal of the program
is to grow and develop the manufacturing workforce pipeline in the middle
grades, a critical juncture in need of particular attention, with an emphasis on
addressing girls and minorities from underserved districts with underachieving
students. “Florida has a diverse manufacturing industry, and FLATE is excited
to offer a student summer manufacturing experience in south Florida” said Dr.
Marilyn Barger, executive director of FLATE.
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