Century Die gives boost to Vanguard's mobile technology lab
FREMONT - Vanguard-Sentinel Career and Technology Centers got a boost from one of its community partners Tuesday, as a top Century Die Company official presented the school with a $3,000 check to help equip a new mobile technology lab.
The American Mold Builders Association selected Tim Myers, Century Die's general manager, in October as the first place winner in its Educational Outreach Champion contest.
As the AMBA contest's winner, Myers asked that the group's $3,000 award be put toward Vanguard's AIM Mobile Career Technology Lab, which offers students at 13 associate schools an opportunity to get an up-close look at manufacturing careers available in the region.
As he stood next to the school's mobile lab Tuesday, Myers said one of the biggest challenges for his industry is the lack of exposure young students have to manufacturing careers.
"Even in high school, they're not aware what a toolmaker is or what a mold maker is," Myers said.
In June 2016, the state's Straight A Fund Governing Board awarded a $882,929 grant to Vanguard.
Vanguard Superintendent Greg Edinger said at the time the school would use the money toward its new Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative program.
He said the grant would allow Vanguard to expand its welding, electrical and machining curriculum, as well as get updated robotics equipment.
In conjunction with the grant, Edinger said Vanguard-Sentinel would introduce the AIM program to provide career technology education to area students and provide a mobile career tech lab that will be used to provide instruction on a wide range of careers for those students
He said students in kindergarten through fifth grade will be targeted with the program, with a goal of getting younger students introduced to several areas of technical education.
Tuesday, Edinger said the lab would provide real world training to students ages 6 to 12.
"We're just trying to be able to offer the exposure at an early age," Edinger said.
The superintendent said the $3,000 from Century Die would help Vanguard purchase more equipment for the mobile technology lab.
dacarson@gannett.com
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Twitter: @DanielCarson7
