Women in Manufacturing Day at QVCC

Quinebaug Valley Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center (AMTC) will host a Women in Manufacturing Day, in celebration of Women’s History Month. On Friday, March 25 from 8:30am – 1:00pm, young women from area high schools will speak with a panel of QVCC AMTC alumnae that are currently working or have worked in a variety of manufacturing careers. Following the panel discussion, students will be split into groups. Each group will be accompanied by several AMTC alumnae to complete the following hands-on workshops:

• Making a brass whistle using the manual lathe and milling machines
• Making a personalized tag using the CNC machines
• Working with a 6-axis robotic arm
• Completing a 3D printer and laser engraving project in the engineering lab

Both visiting high schools are currently participating in the Youth Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (YMPI) program, which is part of the Eastern CT Manufacturing Pipeline. The program is a partnership between various area high schools and the Eastern Workforce Investment Board (EWIB), Electric Boat (EB), Eastern Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (EAMA), Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC), and Three Rivers Community College (TRCC).

This program offers manufacturing skills training to high school students who are interested in a career in manufacturing upon graduation. Students who successfully complete the program will also earn manufacturing credits to QVCC (or TRCC) if they choose to continue their manufacturing education.

“Women in Manufacturing is an opportunity for young ladies to learn about all the great career opportunities that wait for them in manufacturing,” said Jodi Clark, Assistant Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center. “If young ladies want to save lives, they can do that through manufacturing. If they want to help change the environment, they can do that in manufacturing too. The sky is the limit. Women have a place in manufacturing! Our goal is to show the ladies that girls can do anything!”

Learn more about QVCC’s Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics programs at qvcc.edu/manufacturing. For more information about the event, please contact Jodi Clark at jclark1@qvcc.edu.

 

QVCC hosts first annual Women in Manufacturing Day

Quinebaug Valley Community College welcomed 28 ninth and tenth grade girls from Killingly, Plainfield, Putnam, and Tourtellotte Memorial High Schools to the College’s first annual Women in Manufacturing Day.

During a panel discussion, guests had the opportunity to speak with four QVCC alumni who work in the manufacturing industry. Catarina Lima from Electric Boat, Hazel Glaude from Putnam Plastics, Victoria Rooke from Westminster Tool, and Kristina Davenport from SPIROL Corporation offered useful advice, shared personal stories, and answered questions about navigating the manufacturing industry as a woman. Participants also watched video testimonials showcasing two women with manufacturing positions at Whelen Engineering in Chester and UTC Aerospace Systems in Windsor Locks. The students then toured QVCC’s Advanced Manufacturing Center and had the opportunity to fabricate two products: a metal whistle and a plastic storage box using computer numeric control machining and 3D printing respectively.

QVCC President Dr. Carlee Drummer noted the importance of exposing young women to the field of manufacturing. She commented, “Although 47 percent of women comprise the workforce in the United States, only 29 percent hold jobs in manufacturing. QVCC is the ideal place to begin that career.”

Steve LaPointe, Director of Advanced Manufacturing, giving a tour of QVCC's Advanced Manufacturing Center.
Steve LaPointe, Director of  Manufacturing, giving a tour of QVCC’s Advanced Manufacturing Center to visiting high school students.