What started out as a need to replace an obsolete 3-D printer in the RSTA engineering program, triggered an incredible opportunity for the students at Cambridge Rindge and Latin. Would you believe it results in a paid summer intern ship for Cambridge students at GE aviation? What’s more is that upon successfully completing GE’s internship program and graduating from CRLS, the upshot is a job offer in the expanding field of Advanced Manufacturing at GE Aviation in Lynn, Massachusetts. How cool would that be, to be on the manufacturing line producing high tech jet propulsion engine parts and helicopter rotors? To be operating computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines that form the parts from one stage of the manufacturing process to the next. Very cool, I think.
But The RSTA engineering program needs to relay to interested persons all the advantages this program has to offer; over any other class, in all of The Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. This program now offers two viable career paths; one for student’s pursuing a 4year engineering degree, and a new and exciting opportunity for the “hands on- think on their feet types.” In the past two academic school years the engineering program has received several grants totaling $460,000. These funds have been spent to implement and expand an advanced manufacturing center at the school. However, the engineering program’s original charter is to introduce engineering and propel students who wish to further their careers in the field of engineering. Past graduating students and parents of these students of the Rindge Engineering program have returned to us after they have completed an engineering degree to attest that the engineering program made a real difference in positioning them for success. Students acquire the experience that advances their skill set over their collegiate peers which only leads to additional opportunities at the university level and beyond. We only need to present the testimonials posted on our walls from Rindge alumni that convey and compliment this program and its success.
Enrolling in the Engineering Technology Program, offers each student the opportunity to garner 12 college credits, through an agreement from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). These are transcripted credits and are eligible to be transferred to other universities. One of the most important benefits of having RIT credit is that, during the college application process, admissions officers look favorably on a student who has already completed college-level courses. Following the engineering program’s scheduled time-line a student will have in their possession a transcript to attach to any college application they desire to matriculate toward.
So how did we end up with a machine shop? Four years ago the engineering program 3-D printer died. It was our program’s work horse for eleven years. Through the 3-D printer vendor, a listing of available grants was provided to help defer the cost of the replacement printer. One application was forwarded to Governor Baker’s Mass Skills Capital Grant and it simply proposed the following:
The engineering laboratory needs updated equipment to fulfill curriculum needs, for both class room and after school programs such as the First Robotics. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) projects to close the gap between theory and practice; requires the hands on components which accelerate, excite, and drives understanding. The target is that each student matriculates to a post-secondary program in a STEM field, and this equipment will broaden the student’s understanding of career paths available, with the goal being this equipment furthers understanding in manufacturing and robotics fields. Manufacturing has long been outsourced and there has been a recent trend to back source manufacturing. The training will demonstrate the current trends and limitations different manufacturing methods present. This lab equipment will reinforce the basics of manufacturing and present the opportunity to seek career paths in which the M in STEM could stand for manufacturing. We sold them on that notion.
But the story doesn’t end there. All vocational instructors need to stay current and it was incumbent upon me to seek training in operating these advanced CNC vertical milling machines and Lathes. So I enrolled in evening classes on advanced manufacturing at the local community college and recognized two unique things immediately. The first was the majority of students transferred into the evening classes because they were hired before graduation to work as CNC machinists at Pratt and Whitney (GE’s main competitor). The second was the affable Bob Franklin, who teaches the advanced manufacturing courses and chairs the department. Once Bob understood my motivations for tackling his classes he extended insights and expert tutelage to get our program on-line. In the fall of 2018 Mr. Franklin reached out to inform he had taken a position at GE; with his background in aviation and education he was the ideal candidate to form an internal training program at GE.
Advanced manufacturing is back. GE needs to hire 700 people over the next decade to operate the $100 million capital improvement they are undergoing to upgrade their process. These highly skilled positions are difficult to fill and this program is designated as a pipeline to meet their need. The GE career track also has additional benefits, such as paid vacation, medical and tuition reimbursement. Let’s not forget to mention a starting salary of $ 45,000 and debt free from bypassing the traditional college pathway. The Rindge engineering program has all the training needed to match the job description requirements for this GE position.
But let’s list the remaining advantages of the engineering program at Rindge:
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Students often enter the University of their choice, for instance the Rindge engineering program has had 3 engineering students who have been accepted to MIT over the past 3 years. The stigma of vocational training no longer applies with respect to post-secondary opportunities.
- Engineering Instructors are your best option for a college letter of recommendations for any student pursuing an engineering degree.
- AP Physics classes are easier after the second year in the engineering program.
- Cooperative education opportunities are available during the senior school year after two years in the program, along with career counseling, resume building, and career readiness.
- Students identify if engineering is a good career match and their preferred college major before enrolling for college. This program is that extensive.
Need additional information or questions answered about the Rindge School of Technical Art’s Engineering program? Feel free to contact the author (
[email protected]) or the career counselor (
[email protected]).
PHOTO: Recent field trip to GE Aviation shown left to right CRLS student’s Amanuel Hailu and Rasheek Rajabani, GE technical training leader Robert Franklin, and Rindge School of Technical Arts Engineering Instructor Barry Jackson.