Agenda Item #7
Title
Haile Middle School Engineering Technology Students
Executive Summary
Haile Middle School engineering technology teacher Justin Erickson and eight incredible whiz-kid students garnered national attention when the students attempted a difficult industry certification exam—and passed!
In May 2012, eight Haile students—Patrick Atkins, Devin Deitz, Derek Depew, Benjamin Godshall, Jackson Newby, Zachary Scharoun, Tyler Strong and Nicholas Wendrick—passed a three-hour industry certification test for Solidworks, a 3-D engineering and design tool used worldwide. The test is normally taken by college and advanced high school students, and officials at Solidworks said it was the first time middle school students had taken the certification exam for Solidworks, let alone passed.
Haile Technology Instructor Justin Erickson entered his students in the certification exam after he saw how skilled the students were in designing, building, and fine-tuning the aerodynamics of their projects, competition-ready, seven-inch CO2 dragsters.
"It's a big thing for this middle school to have gone so far," said Marie Planchard, Solidworks Director of Education Markets. "It's fantastic." According to the company website, more than 1,878,300 product designers and engineers worldwide, representing 165,900 organizations, use SolidWorks to bring their designs to life.
More than 1,000 jobs posted on Monster.com by companies looking for workers skilled in Solidworks. "These are high-demand, high-paying careers across the country," he said. “That’s why we pledge our resources and best efforts toward equipping our students—so they can enjoy career success after high school.”
Representatives from Octex, a local manufacturing company specializing in precision injection molded components, along with members of the Sarasota/Manatee Area Manufacturers Association (SAMA), recognized the students with an award ceremony and a V.I.P. behind-the-scenes plant tour.
Doug Wagner, Director of Adult Career and Technical Education, will introduce the students and staff.
Recommendation
No action is required by the Board.
Financial Impact
N/A
Contact
Adult, Career and Technical Education
Doug Wagner/sv
08/27/12