Arrowhead High School manufacturing department has grown thanks to partnership with Mark G Sellers Foundation, other businesses, school says
Not every high school student is necessarily college bound, and it's this group of students that Arrowhead High School is trying to reach through its manufacturing program.
To help contribute to the success of that program, the school has partnered with the Mark G Sellers Foundation and other local businesses to provide an opportunity for students to explore manufacturing careers that in turn will prepare a future workforce that these companies will likely tap into.
The foundation has provided a five-year matching grant totaling $100,000, according to a news release. Other businesses that have contributed include D&H Industries' and Bradley Corp., $5,000 each over five years; Frentzel Products, Brelie Gear, Versevo, Integrity Wire EDM and Bryant Products, $2,500 each over five years; Medline, $2,000 over five years; and Dorner Manufacturing, Dynamic Tool and Sjoberg, $1,000 each over five years.
The companies have been taking part in the "High Tech High" initiative launched in spring 2020 when Arrowhead reached out to the MGS Foundation in pursuit of CNC equipment and asked for a partnership and commitment of five years, to which Sellers agreed, the release said.
"Every September, it forces us to talk. That's what I like about that partnership. It forces us to work together. It can't be 'well, I did that once' or 'I contributed once.' No, it's 'we need you to have a seat at the table,' and this five-year partnership allows us to do that," said Anthony Christain, AHS manufacturing and engineering instructor, in a phone interview. "We need to talk. We need to meet. We need to figure out what your needs are and what our needs are. How can we work together and then that's where the magic happens, which is awesome."
The goal of the project is to acquire five CNC machines. So far, the program has acquired two. One of those machines is a CNC brake press that will arrive at the school at the end of September, and the other is a CNC lathe that was acquired on consignment through Premier Machine Tool Midwest in Hartland, according to Christain.
"It's already here. It's already working. The kids have been using it, but we don't own it, and that's one where we want to purchase it so that it's our equipment," Christain said of the CNC lathe.
Christain said the program is hoping to acquire two more CNC mills so that one can be used at the school's North Campus and one can be used at the school's South Campus. He also hopes to acquire a smaller brake press at South Campus.
"It's a five-year commitment for our business partners and the foundation, so the money has to come in and make the payments and make the purchases accordingly," he said.
Since 2012, the school's engineering and manufacturing program has seen investments in curriculum, staff and facilities to generate excitement for and to expose students to career opportunities in manufacturing and automation, according to the release.
Christain said the facility and lab sets the tone for classes and education.
"It's not your grandfather's shop. This is modern manufacturing where you look in and it's bright and it's light and it's clean and it's organized. We have the same equipment that the manufacturers use. Those are the things that bring somebody in. It's like the lights turn on almost," Christain said.
Christain said it's his job to show students the career opportunities that can come from taking the classes.
"I think that's part of my job ... to lift that veil and get them excited. ... This is awesome. Now let's give you the education that you need so that way, you can make really good decisions about your future and where you're going," Christain said.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Arrowhead credits partnership with foundation, businesses to grow manufacturing program
