Grafton Students to Explore Manufacturers

Patch file photo

Blackstone Valley Education Foundation member school districts, which includes Grafton, will be commemorate Manufacturing Day in the historic valley that gave birth to the Industrial Revolution by sending students to twelve area manufacturers during October, according to an announcement.

The first phase on Oct. 2 includes eight small- to mid-sized local manufacturers and juniors and seniors from seven high schools. This phase pairs teams of two students at each manufacturer for an in-depth one-on-one exposure to multiple aspects of the advanced manufacturing process.

Students will spend the school day on-site observing job duties and discussing the skills required for entry level employment in advanced manufacturing. The experience will include a lunch discussion with management and employees.

The hope is that opportunities may present themselves for the participating students to be considered for possible employment within the field of advanced manufacturing following graduation, said the announcement.

Participating local manufacturers for phase one include Precision Engineering, Lampin Corporation, Interstate Specialties, Package Industries, Eastern Acoustic Works, Irrigation Automation Systems, Omni Control Technologies, Fiba Technologies. 
 


The second phase will involve teachers and middle school students from eight public school districts and will focus on S.T.E.M. related career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math within advanced manufacturing. Bus trips will take place to four large locally-based international manufacturers who will provide facility tours, discussions with employees representing several aspects of career fields within advanced manufacturing, and a luncheon program that will feature speakers and panel discussions. EMC, Waters Corp., Atlas Global Solutions, and Saint-Gobain will participate in this phase. A total of about 185 students and their teachers are expected to visit the manufacturers during October. 
 


The program is sponsored by a partnership between the National Park Service, Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), and the Blackstone Valley Education Foundation. BVEF member school districts include Northbridge, Millbury, Grafton, Blackstone Valley Tech, Mendon-Upton Regional, Douglas, Sutton, Hopedale, Milford, Uxbridge, and Blackstone-Millville Regional.