Kettering University Awarded Seed Funding Contract to Prepare Course on Composites

CAAT Conducts Career Exploration Lab for Local Cub Scout Troop

On November 21st, the CAAT conducted its second Career Exploration Lab (CEL) with a Cub Scout troop from Marysville, MI. Seven scouts and their parents participated in the 4-hour lab. The scout leader brought the troop to Macomb Community College to increase STEM awareness among the scouts and to help them learn about engineering careers.

 

Cub Scouts participate in Hovercraft lab at Macomb Community College

Upon completion

of the lab, each student received a specially designed STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) badge to proudly wear on their scout jacket. The scouts and their parents found the lab to be extremely informative, challenging and fun.  In fact, they are hoping to return for another lab in the near future.

CAAT Director Supports Digital Sculptor Event at Macomb Community College

On November 11, 2015, Macomb Community College hosted an event called, Digital Sculpting, Modeling the Mustang, which was attended by more than 120 people, including high school students, college students, and industry professionals.  The event featured Giuliano Zuccato, one of the clay modelers who brought the first Ford Mustang to life.  Giuliano talked about the thrill of sculpting the original "pony" car. Participants gained insight into the growing digital sculpting field from auto industry experts and learned more about Macomb's Digital Sculpting Program.

1965 Mustang owned by   CAAT Director, Bob Feldmaier

Clay modeling is an important step in the vehicle design process. In an age where computers reign, one might think that the technology used 50 years ago by Giuliano Zuccato would have long been replaced by a computerized process. While that is somewhat true with digital design, the industry still relies on skilled clay modelers who use their hands and special tools to create a 3D model. This was evident at two recent CAAT events that exposed middle and high school students to the art (the A in STEAM) of automotive clay modeling. The CAAT sponsored 2015 Automotive Design and Engineering Career Expo and 2015 Robotics, Engineering and Technology Days events both featured hands on exhibits on clay modeling conducted by General Motors.

CAAT Director, Bob Feldmaier, put his personal '65 Mustang on display at the event. It was a big hit with event participants, especially the license plate!

 

• Chippewa Valley
• Dakota
• East Detroit
• Grosse Point South
• Lakeview
• Lincoln
• South Lake

The high school students toured Macomb's state-of-

A student learns how to conduct a diagnostic test in Macomb's Automotive Technology Program

the-art classrooms, labs and service bays, which provide training in the latest vehicle diagnosis and technology.

 

Local employers from Alta Engineering and the Suburban Collection were on hand to speak with students about automotive career opportunities. Macomb recruiters were also available to provide information on all of Macomb's educational programs.

 

Susie Q, a Christophersen Racing dragster encased in the shell of a '57 Chevy, was a big hit with the students. The car is raced by Sue Christophersen, whose husband Steve is part of her pit crew. The couple was invited by Macomb's automotive faculty to speak to the students about racing life and to demonstrate the power of a 528 Hemi engine.

 

Congratulations to Chippewa Valley High School for winning the valve cover race, a long-standing Open House tradition!

 

CAAT Leadership Attends Annual ATE PI Conference

Several members of the CAAT staff recently attended the 22nd National ATE Principal Investigators Conference in Washington, DC. CAAT PI, Joe Petrosky, Director Bob Feldmaier, Assistant Directors Sherri Doherty and Nelson Kelly, and Program Manager, Mary Hojnacki all attended the event. A graduate of the CAAT's electric vehicle development certificate program, Luke Deptula, also attended the event on an NSF ATE student scholarship.

 

The conference brought together approximately 800 people to focus on the critical issues related to advanced technological education. Key people working on ATE projects across the country participated in the conference. Conference attendees represented community colleges, business and industry, secondary school systems, four-year colleges, and research and development centers, covering projects in a wide variety of areas.

 

Keynote speakers included:

 

• AINISSA G. RAMIREZ, Ph.D., a science evangelist who is passionate about getting the general public excited about science. She co-authored Newton's Football: The Science Behind America's Game (Random House); and, authored Save Our Science: How to Inspire a New Generation of Scientists (TED Books).

• ANDRE W. THORNTON, Senior Manager for Technical Leadership Programs and STEM at Lockheed Martin's Information Systems and Global Solutions. In this role he is responsible for creating and leading the strategy that is charged with developing the next generation of technical leaders in his business.

• DONALD L. MCCOY, a K-to-College STEM Education Consultant who retired from the IBM Corporation after thirty years of service with experience as a senior engineer and responsibilities in people, process, project, and program management.