Local Program Gives Students First-Ever Job Experience

The WIA Summer Youth Work Experience offers selected students from the ten-county area served by the In School program their very first job experience.

In addition to partnering with local employers, this year Youth Coordinator Christin Jackson challenged each student to become a part of an exciting opportunity, Dream It – Do It Virginia Manufacturing Technology Camps. These camps were a huge success for those participating as the experience introduced youth to the manufacturing/design process in a fun and interactive format. The camps are an innovative way to educate students, parents and teachers about manufacturing careers. During the camps, a variety of activities filled the day, including tours, lectures, and manufacturing demonstrations. Additionally, a competitive manufacturing assignment is built into the camp. Students divided into teams to collaborate and work on their assignment with the knowledge and expertise of industry engineers from multiple disciplines.

The guest speaker from Dream It – Do It was Gabrielle J. O’Brien, Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the Virginia Manufacturers Association, who attended the orientation.  The camps were held at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center in South Boston, taught by Ronnie Cole, and the Lake Country Advanced Knowledge Center in South Hill, taught by Vincent Brown.

Speakers at the camps included Leon Williams representing Redland Brick Company in Lawrenceville and students were given a tour of the plant.  The speaker at the South Boston site was Patricia Ricket, an engineer, from ABB.

The students formed teams, designed logos, learned about creating parts on a 3D printer and produced their product.  Awards were given at the end of the camp.

From making jets fly to creating life-saving medicine, careers in advanced technology such as manufacturing, health care, information technology, robotics, and biotechnology, offer above average pay, opportunities for advancement and skills that can be transferred across multiple industries.

Dream It -Do It -Virginia is a free career resource tool built by Virginia’s advanced technology sector to help individuals learn more about exciting fields of possible future employment.