 |
Jeremy Swindeall, 20, of Riverside is the first graduate to complete
the
dual-enrollment program between Pell City High School and
Jefferson
State and find work at a local industry.
Swindeall is
pictured with a Programmable Logic Control
at the Pell City Jeff State
Campus.
|
A Riverside graduate is the first to complete the dual-enrollment program between Pell City High School and Jefferson State Community College and find work at a local industry.
“We have had other students go through the program and to four-year degrees, but Jeremy Swindeall is the only student I’m aware of to complete the program in high school and at Jeff State and be hired at a local industry,” said David Felton, Jefferson State Community College program coordinator for the Manufacturing and Technology Program.
Swindeall, 20, said he began the dual-enrollment program as a senior during the 2010-2011 school year.
“I graduated and then got scholarships for my second and third years at Jeff State while working full-time for Voith (a mechanical engineering company),” he said.
Swindeall graduated last December with a two-year Automotive Automated Manufacturing Technology associates degree.
“My last class was a co-op class combining work and education,” he said. “It is like clinicals for nursing students but in a totally different field.”
Swindeall said he was able to work at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama for the co-op class.
“I work equipment services for Paint Line 1,” he said. “I work on anything and everything to make a car — ovens, conveyors, air houses, booths, robots. I’m hoping to work for Honda full-time.”
Swindeall said equipment services is a multi-trade job.
“I am learning PLCs (Programmable Logic Control) and industrial electrical,” he said. “And I have also taken courses in welding, fluid power, motor drives and others.”
Swindeall said PLC can be used to run anything that runs off a circuit — lights, ovens, conveyors and more.
“You can turn on a whole factory in five minutes by having it set up on logic,” he said.
Swindeall said when he started the dual enrollment program, he was not sure where it would lead.
“I wanted to continue and take the college courses to see where they led, and I found equipment services the right fit,” he said. “I’ve always liked to learn how things worked and use both my hands and brain—I like a challenge. The dual enrollment program gave me a chance to see some of what I would be working around.”
Swindeall said the dual enrollment program helped him tremendously.
“It is a fantastic program that helped put me in a position to have a career I enjoy,” he said. “Without the program, I highly doubt I would be in this position at my age.”
Swindeall said he would like to see the dual enrollment program offered to more students.
“It is amazing to see everything I have learned about in college implemented to control the natural environment to best benefit the production of high-quality vehicles,” he said.
Kim Williams, career and technical education director and curriculum coordinator for the Pell City School System, said they have been awarded a grant due to the joint partnership with Jeff State, local businesses and industry and the St. Clair County Economic Development Council.
“All these entities work together to try and meet the workforce demands of our area,” she said.
Williams said the grant will go toward expanding the dual enrollment program.
“We will find out at the end of March how much money we have been awarded,” she said.
Felton said the dual enrollment program offers courses for a two-year associates of applied science degree.
“The primary focus is in manufacturing for automation — robotics, electronics and mechanical systems,” he said.
Felton said the Manufacturing and Technology Center at Jeff State offers AAS degrees/certificates in automotive/automated manufacturing, industrial technology, electronics, biomedical equipment, CADD (computer aided drafting and design) and tool and die maintenance. It features high school dual enrollment, full and part time students, changing careers and apprenticeship programs with industry.
Technology career paths include electrical/electronics technician, mechatronics technician, robotics, engineering technology, CADD/designer, maintenance technician, automation/instrumentation, PLC, CMM programmers, quality technician, welding, machinist and marketing/sales representative.
“The Pell City Campus offers two of the six AAS degrees: computer aided drafting and design and industrial technology,” he said. “The grant will allow us to implement an electronics option and allow the Pell City Campus to offer three of the six AAS degrees.”
Felton said by partnering with the high school, it helps prevent a duplication of equipment in multiple locations.
“We are all very proud of Jeremy and his success,” he said. “And we are on the verge of the dual enrollment program becoming much bigger.”
No comments:
Post a Comment