TERRE HAUTE —
After David Hohenstein took an introductory machining class at Terre Haute North Vigo High School, he found he liked it and decided to take additional courses.
He likes working with metal “and seeing what you can transform it into.”
Machining requires such skills as being able to measure and knowing fractions and decimals, he said. It requires being patient, careful and safe.
He finds it’s easier to learn those math skills in a hands-on class, where he has to apply it.
Machining is not his first career choice; he’d rather be a police officer. But if that doesn’t work out, “I’d like to be a machinist.”
He knows a strong demand exists for skilled machinists, in the Wabash Valley and elsewhere. It’s a skills gap the Vigo County School Corp. is working to address.
Martin Nagy, in his third year as North’s machine tool teacher, has had success this year in generating interest in the program, with 70 students taking introductory classes. Before that, enrollment had been down.
“To me, it’s all about exposure. This stuff is so cool and so fun,” Nagy said. Some will be interested in pursuing it, and others won’t, but “unless they try it, they’ll never know.”
Guidance counselors work with students to “explain what we do and let them make an informed choice. It’s not a fit for everybody,” the teacher said.
Nagy has worked with local industry to learn what they need and also to help him recruit students.
Last year during a school open house, representatives of JWS Machine attended, did a demonstration and answered students’ and parents’ questions.
That way, parents and kids could talk to an industry professional about employment opportunities and educational requirements, said Doug Dillion, Vigo County School Corp. director of career-technical education.
“That’s been one of the challenges. People don’t understand enough about machining and industry opportunities,” Dillion said. “It’s one thing for a teacher to tell parents and kids,” but it takes on added significance when an employer talks about it.
According to Nagy, “the cooperation with the local machine shops has been instrumental in helping us out — everything from technical advice, to donated materials, to having jobs available for our students when they graduate. The camaraderie with the local shops will be key to our success.”
Last year, Laurence Cross, general manager at Tri Aerospace, took Nagy to a machining convention in Chicago, and another company took two of North’s guidance counselors. It helped educate the counselors about the opportunities the industry offers.
Nagy also attends meetings of a committee that is working to address local companies’ needs for skilled machinists. Those attending include representatives of industry, education and WorkOne.
The group is chaired by Cross, who said the machine shops “have a challenge finding skilled workers. We’re trying to figure out ways to get the word out that manufacturing in this area is a very good career path.”
Cross said that Nagy is helping fill that skills gap by his involvement with local industry. “The students out of his class are very good in the fundamentals we need” from machinists, he said.
Part of what the committee wants to accomplish is “to make sure we are staying in tune with them [educators], so they have the curriculum that works for us,” Cross said.
Nagy said there are 26 shops within a 15-mile radius of Terre Haute North, and representatives of several have visited his classes and talked to his students about expectations.
The precision machine technology career pathway offers dual college credit opportunity and industry certification, Dillion said. “It’s a great pathway for kids to go into,” with potential to make high wages.
The program is also offered at South Vigo and West Vigo high schools.
Dillion is concerned that sometimes, there is too much focus on standardized testing.
“Our ultimate goal is to make every student a productive citizen,” Dillion said. “We want them to have high skill, high wage, high demand jobs so they can give back to the community and contribute to the tax base.”
The machining career pathway is one route to get there, he said.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
News
Related Photos
-
Eyes on the skill prize: Terre Haute North Vigo High School junior David Hohenstein, 17, keeps an eye on a drill bit as he makes parallel clamps in Martin Nagy's machining class Tuesday at North Vigo. (Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza)
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Learning the basics of modern tech: Terre Haute North Assistant Principal Scott Moore shows off an example of what students can make with the high school's CNC milling machine Tuesday at North. At right, is machining instructor, Martin Nagy.
Discussion
METAL HEADS: Machining classes helping give students employable skills
Strong demand exists for machinists
- News
-
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Kindergartner diagnosed with MD treated to a day with the fire department
“He’ll just never forget this day,” Stacey Manley said, a little bit tearfully, as she watched her smiling 6-year-old son Carter sitting happily in the captain’s seat of Fire Engine 2.
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Rose-Hulman projects will promote growth, learning for people with physical challenges
Life changed dramatically for college engineering student Drew Christy on Feb. 22, 2008 when he was involved in an auto accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
-
‘500’ gas stations being sold to Speedway LLC
After several decades in business, the area’s familiar “500” gasoline stations and convenience stores will soon be missing from the roadsides of Vigo and Sullivan counties.
-
Terre Haute woman faces 14 charges
A Terre Haute woman faces 14 criminal counts after her arrest Friday on drug-related charges.
-
Two adults injured in ATV accident
Two adults were injured Sunday evening while riding an all-terrain vehicle near Lexington Farms Subdivision off Moyer Drive in southern Vigo County.
-
Vigo schools’ medical claims down 4 percent
The Vigo County School Corp.’s medical claims were about $13 million over the last 12 months, down 4 percent from the prior year, said Diane Titchenell, an Anthem account manager that works with the school district.
-
2013 Government Directory now available
The 2013 Government Directory is now available.
-
Life-Size Ping Pong: Valley pickleball tourney draws large crowd to Brittlebank Park
It’s been described as “ping pong on steroids.”
Some people call it “life-size ping pong where you stand on the table.” -
Boat trip aims to raise awareness about Lewy Body Dementia
In 2013, the Year of the River, it makes sense to link a grand adventure on the Wabash River with a good cause.
-
Legislature had little taste for alcohol bills
When it comes to alcohol, the 2013 legislative session may be marked more by what it didn’t do to boost booze sales than what it did.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Is it regulation that doesn’t make sense or evening the playing field?
I’m not much of a drinker, so I haven’t spent much time thinking about how Indiana’s alcohol laws personally impact me, but that changed last fall when my daughter got married.
-
For Piper: Annual ‘Rush the Punter’ event dedicated to Dixie Bee student who died Wednesday after a short illness
Steve Weatherford’s “Rush the Punter” fundraiser at Fairbanks Park on Saturday was dedicated to a little girl who lost her life unexpectedly to pneumonia.
-
Vigo schools prepare to tighten belts
State funding for the Vigo County School Corp. will remain “pretty flat” for the next two years, said Donna Wilson, chief financial officer.
-
Veterans take to the trees
Cristal Bednar took photos of her husband, Justin, as he laboriously climbed his way up a “Dangle-Duo” to get to a zipline at Indiana State University’s Sycamore Outdoor Center.
-
Property owner seeks halt to Hulman Lake dam project
A Terre Haute property owner is seeking an injunction that would at least temporarily halt the city’s work on the Hulman Lake dam project.
-
Tornado veterans balance preparedness, practicality
Few things in nature are less predictable than a tornado. They can form quickly. They strike weirdly, leveling one building while leaving its neighbor untouched. They can fling a car a half-mile and turn a piece of lumber into a wall-piercing missile.
-
ISU unveils interactive Bayh Family Legacy Wall at school
A who’s who of Indiana Democrats paid tribute to Evan Bayh and several generations of the Bayh family Friday during a dedication of a new interactive display at Indiana State University.
-
Can you smell me now?
A contraband cell phone has been discovered by the Vigo County Jail’s youngest and most unique officer.
-
GIVING BACK: Steve Weatherford buys shoes for kids day before charity run
Terre Haute’s Steve Weatherford, punter for the 2012 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, showed once again his generosity Friday by donating new athletic shoes to more than two dozen Vigo County kids.
- More News Headlines
-
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Today in History May 22
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
Raw: Aussie Zoo Shows Off White Rhino Calf
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod
