Upon entering class Tuesday morning, a small group of 12th graders get right to work.
The work looks a little different from a typical classroom setup; these students are grabbing hand tools and power tools they have been using to assemble two go-karts.
These electric go-karts are not quite done yet but give it another three to four weeks, and these vehicles will be ready to hit the track. The students who have been working on them are excited about it, too – not just about the idea of getting to drive them (though that is a big one), but about the fact that everything they are currently working on this semester is preparing them for potential jobs in manufacturing after they graduate.
These students are part of the FutureReady program, a course that was developed through a joint partnership of the school district, Berkeley County Economic Development and Trident Technical College. Thanks to this partnership, participating students will receive hands-on technical training before they graduate – while also helping to fill the local workforce gap.
Sonya Addison-Stewart, BCSD’s Director of Career and Technical Education, said the hope is to catch these students before they graduate and give them some foundational skills, and some skills targeted toward a specific career.
“We need to catch those students who may have skills, but did not get to take any (CTE) classes,” she said.
Addison-Stewart said the concepts of the program are very broad, and it is not geared toward one particular cluster area or career area. For the pilot program, since the partners all knew the classes were going to be held at Trident’s Berkeley campus, they decided to work with high school counselors to refer graduating seniors who were more than likely going to enter the workforce upon graduating, or for those who were not sure of their plans after high school. There are 10 students from Goose Creek High and Hanahan High who started in the program after winter break.
This year’s pilot program focuses on manufacturing, but all the partners hope to expand on the program to focus on other career paths such as healthcare and hospitality, and increase the number of participating students in general.
Robert Elliott, Dean of Trident’s Berkeley Campus and Dean of the Division of Manufacturing and Maintenance, said local manufacturers are already looking to recruit the students in this semester’s program.
“The goal by the end of the semester is for these students to have valuable technical skills to be proficient manufacturing associates, and to be able to follow written formal procedures for technical standards (and) STEM concepts, and just have the ability to work collaboratively with other people – and work safely,” Elliott said, adding, “We’re looking to scale up and increase the participation of students in these types of programs, and fill the talent demand gap in our area.”
The program comes with a list of courses and learning objectives. One of the classes the students are taking is Industrial Safety and OSHA 10, which focuses on industrial safety and also allows students with the opportunity to obtain an OSHA 10 certification. They are also taking Applied Math for Industrial Manufacturing, which centers on algebra, geometry and trigonometry as it applies to technical applications within industry; Professional Communication, a soft skill necessary for communication in the workplace; and Fundamentals of Mechanical Assembly, a hands-on course where the students use assorted hand and power tools to build the go-karts they are currently constructing.
Fundamentals of Mechanical Assembly is taught by David Perkins, associate dean over manufacturing and maintenance. Perkins said his students have really blossomed over the past few weeks and are really demonstrating everything they have learned under his tutelage.
“At first they were very nervous,” he said, adding that there were some students who had never even held a power tool. “But once we actually got into building the (kart)…they’re so excited now. They’re very into it.”
Hanahan High senior Eli Bullington and Goose Creek High senior Jontez Kendrick both spoke volumes about their experience in the class.
Bullington is considering a career in automotive engineering but also eventually wants to go to a seminary. He said FutureReady has presented him with a lot of valuable information for when he graduates high school.
“It’s just a great opportunity,” he said. “I think I still plan on going into ministry, but this is just something I’ve enjoyed doing. It’s a great experience.”
Kendrick echoed similar thoughts.
“It really teaches you a lot,” he said, adding, “Other than the cars, they teach other stuff – we talk about math, safety and communication.”
Michael Ramsey, BCSD Board Vice Chair and Berkeley County Economic Development Existing Industries Manager, said one of the biggest issues industry is facing is the workforce gap.
“They want to get connected with our students,” he said. “This an opportunity to connect all those industries with students who have an interest to go and work for them.”
Corey McClary, Workforce Development Manager for Berkeley County Economic Development, said the county is honored to be leading the way in this STEM initiative.
“We’re really excited about where this is going to go and the potential this has to be a game-changer for all the students here – and in the region,” he said.
McClary said he is overwhelmed by the magnitude and scale of how far the students have come this semester.
“To think the students are actually doing this is incredible,” he said, adding, “The skills they are learning are invaluable.”
