In order to promote manufacturing and technology jobs, Jamestown Engine Plant's Education Focus group of the Community Involvement Team is partnering with Jamestown Community College's engineering science program.
JCC offers degree programs in engineering science and mechanical technology, degree and certificate programs in welding technology, and certificates in computer-aided design and computer numerical control and machine tool technology. Students are frequently unaware of the opportunities to become employees at local manufacturing plants. As a pilot of the partnership, four JCC students who are pursuing associate degrees in engineering science participated in an engineering internship at Cummins from June through August.
The program, which allowed each student to have an individual mentor, gave them the opportunity to have hands-on practical experience in design work, quality data/analysis, measurement systems analysis, process operations capabilities and writing engineering job requests.
Article Photos
Front row, from left: Robert Darling, Kahle Counts, Spencer Smith, Taylor Seavy and Kendell Kosinski. In back are Jennifer Robinson, John Osborne and Mike Kosinski.
Submitted photo
One intern said, "This program was the best thing that I've ever done. I have learned so much about how a manufacturing plant operates in both a business and engineering sense."
Jill Johnson, JCC engineering science technology teacher, said the program enriches what the students learn in the classroom by witnessing tasks done in person at a manufacturing plant.
Cummins employees are embracing the opportunity to participate in this program because it teaches students that there are local opportunities for quality jobs, where they can grow and receive good benefits. There will be ongoing contact with each student over their time at JCC and during their junior and senior years after they transfer to another institution. After they receive their bachelor's degrees, the students will be invited back to explore employment opportunities at Cummins.