Happy New Year from Elevate
Elevate Advanced Manufacturing
has made great strides educating Iowans about the awesome career opportunities at Iowa's advanced manufacturing companies.
From ice-cream and popcorn to wind turbines and tools, there are lots of super cool products made in Iowa!
This year, why not invite a manufacturing professional to your classroom to give your students a first-hand account of what they appreciate about their career? Check out our Educator Resource page and
Request a speaker
from Elevate today!
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Elevate is Hiring!
Seeking Program Coordinator!
Elevate is looking for a dynamic individual to serve as the Elevate Program Coordinator. This person should be passionate about manufacturing and willing to talk with students, parents teachers and community leaders throughout the state about the wonderful career opportunities in advanced manufacturing! For more information about this exciting full time position (based in Central Iowa), contact
Michele Farrell.
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Elevate Scholarships! Apply Now!
 Encourage high school seniors to apply for one of 15 $500 scholarships that can be applied to tuition at one of Iowa's Community Colleges. The application is simple! Download it today on the
Elevate website. Applications are due April 1, 2016.
Shown above: Cody Wegner, a student at NIACC, was one of the 2015 Elevate Scholarship Recipients .
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Teaching for the Workplace Experience Program (June 20 - 23, 2016)
Central Iowa middle and high school teachers have an opportunity to participate in a four-day highly interactive program in Pella Iowa to learn about how to prepare their students for the in-demand jobs of the future! To learn more and to register, contact
Kim Didier today. 2 CEUs are included in the $120 registration fee (and $75 of that fee is refunded upon completion of the program)!
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Young Manufacturer Success Story!
Dane Dermody, Manufacturing Trades Instructor Highway Equipment Company
When I was in high school, I developed a passion for learning how to build things. Whether it was wood, glass, steel, furniture, a shed, or a piece of poor quality artwork, building and making things has always been something that I could "get lost" in. I knew back then that I wanted to get into a skilled trade. A couple years after I finished high school, I decided on Welding.
I went to Kirkwood Community College and earned a 2 year associates of applied science degree in welding technology. While in this program, I discovered that welding is a wide field and I needed to specialize. I could be an iron worker, pipe fitter, production welder, or even a small shop owner. Really, anything was possible.
In my first semester, I decided to give manufacturing (production welding) a shot. The doors of opportunity flew open event when I was simply trying to get my foot in the door to earn some money while working through school! I describe my experience as a journey of opportunity. In my 10 years in manufacturing so far, I have worked as a Production Welder, Supervisor, Weld Specialist, and most recently as a Manufacturing Trades Instructor.
Through this journey of opportunity, there seems to be one consistent core element: continuous improvement. Whether it is in regards to me, the company I work for, or both, continuous improvement has been key to my success. Continuous improvement has changed manufacturing from what it was, to what it is today.
Manufacturing has been traditionally thought of as a dangerous job in which you punch in in the morning, go to your dark and dingy corner and do the same thing you did yesterday for 14 hours. At the end of your shift you punch out, get in your old broken down rust bucket vehicle, go home, scrub all the nasty dirt oil and grease off of your calloused hands then go to bed just to get up and do it again the next day.
This is far from the truth about today's manufacturing jobs!
Today, manufacturing has become significantly cleaner, safer, leaner, and more efficient, with wages significantly higher than most other industries. Throughout manufacturing facilities, some of the latest technological advances are on display in their entirety, with a staff of skilled professionals to create new and exciting products to better serve customers around the world.
Manufacturing holds opportunities for just about anyone. Accountants, engineers, machinists, welders and assemblers are just a few examples of the roles to be filled in a manufacturing company.
Passion, opportunity, and continuous improvement are what I have found in manufacturing. While I made the decision to obtain a career in manufacturing through welding, the opportunities in manufacturing are very extensive and can provide a satisfying career for just about anybody.
View testimonial videos from other success stories
here!
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Counselor Corner:
Community College Intermediaries Expose Students to Great Careers
It's that time of year when many seniors start getting serious about what they are going to do after high school. We all know that gaining post-secondary education is a good choice for many and with the aging workforce, manufacturing skills are only going to be in higher and higher demand in the future. Each community college has an
Intermediary
(a focused staff person) excited to expose your students to really marketable career choices. This individual might even be able to connect your students with local companies so they can explore career options of interest. If you would like the contact information for your local Intermediary,
click here
and fill out the simple form with your request - we'll get right back to you!
Key Message: Your local community colleges can help your students make great career choices!
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Teacher In-Service & Student Assembly Presenters!
Looking for a speaker for an upcoming teacher in-service or student assembly?
Make a request here for an Elevate Ambassador (real manufacturing success stories) to come talk about the great career opportunities in manufacturing.
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Colleges, Schools and Companies Collaborate!
West Delaware High School and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) have collaborated to create a new welding lab at the high school.
The $160,000 of improvements will provide area high school students with an enhanced environment to develop their welding skills and train for a career!
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Download An Engaging Career- Oriented Curriculum!
Check out the Educator Resources page to download fun activities and thought-provoking questions to get your students to open their minds about career possibilities at our Iowa companies. |
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Promoting STEM Activities in the Classroom
 STEM-related activities in the classroom help students understand the opportunities in these areas and increases interest in STEM-related career fields, such as manufacturing.
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Perception vs. Reality
The False Perception: Manufacturing careers are dirty, dangerous and dead-end jobs. These jobs are 'consolation prizes' for those who 'couldn't cut it' at a four-year school.
The Reality: Advanced manufacturing careers offer outstanding pay and benefits (average salary of $77,060 compared with $60,168 for other industries*). These careers are high-tech, take place in clean and lean facilities and have growth potential.
* 2011 Bureau of Economic Analysis
Iowa Manufacturing Facts
By 2018, there will be a projected shortage of 6,672 skilled workers in the advanced manufacturing sector.
Projected Career Growth by 2020 in Iowa:
- Computer Numerically
Controlled (CNC) + 23%
- Transportation/
Logistics +19%
- Machining +17%
- Industrial Automation +16%
- Welding +14%
- Industrial Maint. +11%
- Tool & Die +8%
- Manufacturing Tech. +3%
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Is Your Classroom "Open For Business"?
Your area manufacturing companies often allow tours, job shadows, internships and many will even come to your classroom to talk to your students or participate in an activity! To request such an experience, visit our
Educator Resources page
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Video Testimonial:
Aaron Perry explains how rewarding his career in advanced manufacturing has been.
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Upcoming Events!
Iowa Valley Youth Career Connections Employer Lunch and Learn
January 20th
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
This lunch and learn in Iowa Falls will inform employers about services provided by Youth Career Connections and will include discussions about possible job shadowing and worksite tour opportunities with your company. All interested employers are invited and lunch is provided. RSVP to
Calmar Advanced Manufacturing Career Event
Northeast Iowa Community College Wilder Business Center 1625 Hwy 150 South Calmar, Iowa
February 3, 2016
5:30 p.m.
* Learn about training for: Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Operator, Welding (Basic) and Electromechanical Technician.
* Explore job openings and earning potential with employer sponsors.
Schools in Action!
Creston High Tours Bunn and Vanmark Equipment
Twenty-three Central Decatur High School business and welding students explored careers in manufacturing through worksite tours at BUNN and Vanmark Equipment, LLC, in Creston on December 1.
The tour was funded by Southwestern Community College's Workplace Learning Network.
Burlington High School Students Tour Ethanol Plant
In November, Southeastern Community College arranged for Burlington High School students to tour Big River Resources, an ethanol plant.
The tour was arranged by SCC's Intermediary, Leanne Krogmeier.
Manufacturing Career Day for Lee County Students
Students in Lee County toured Stuke Plastics, Steffensmeier Welding and Pinnacle Foods' facility for Lee County Advanced Manufacturing Career Exploration Day.
Iowa STEM Council prepares to launch 2016-17 STEM Scale-Up Program application for educators
The Iowa STEM Council awarded an Iowa elementary school in Howard-Winneshiek School District with a 2015-16 STEM Scale-Up Program called, "Pint Size Science," that brings exploratory science to three-to-five-year-olds.
The
Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council's Scale-Up
program allows thousands of educators each year an opportunity to implement exemplary science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs in their classroom or out-of-school setting.
By the end of January, an online application will be available for educators across the state to apply for a menu of STEM programs
.
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News & Events!
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