ACC’s Manufacturing Camp Grabs Attention of Local Middle, High School Students

Local middle school and high school students in consecutive weeks immersed themselves in all things industrial for a first-time Manufacturing and Skills Trades Camp held on the Alamance Community College campus in late June.

ACC initiated the camp in an effort to expose students to the programs in the Industrial Technologies division. The campers were introduced to Horticulture Technology, Computer-Aided Drafting Technology, Welding Technology, Computer-Integrated Machining, Automotive Systems, Agricultural Biotechnology, Culinary Arts, Mechatronics Engineering Technology, Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration, and Advertising and Graphic Design.

“We’re trying to capture potential students by showing them something from each program,” said Bently Pagura, an HVAC instructor at the College and one of four camp leaders.

Middle and high school students participated in the camps in successive weeks. Among the 12 middle school camp students were four girls; three of the seven high school campers were female.  

Each Industrial Technologies department was allotted two hours during the week to introduce a hands-on project for the students. Some examples were plasma cutting in welding, making a Yo-Yo in machining, and drawing a house plan in drafting. Each program gave the campers a glimpse into what students can learn in a particular curriculum.

Justin Snyder, Dean of Industrial Technologies, worked with the department heads to formulate a camp schedule that did not interfere with summer term classes ongoing in each department.

“Our goal was two-fold,” said Pagura. “It’s important for the middle school campers to look ahead because there are many opportunities to earn numerous credentials at ACC while they are in high school. And we wanted the high school campers to finish the camp knowing that they have excellent local career options available to them because of the training they can receive at Alamance Community College.”