The Future of Workforce Development is Here and Now at Drake State

As the expansion of the manufacturing industry continues to grow along with the arrival of new corporations to North Alabama, it all comes with the need for a trained and capable labor force.

In the effort of providing affordable, hands-on training to prepare students to become the workforce of tomorrow, Drake State Community and Technical College is front and center in helping to make this a reality. Through offering STEM bootcamps and providing scholarships for students pursuing careers related to the automobile manufacturing industry, it’s a win-win for students and corporations alike. 

Drake State is offering several programs for students to get high quality training, the kind of training that translates into those solid, bona fide job skills that the manufacturing sector is eagerly seeking.

One of those opportunities is the result of a partnership formed between Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and the Alabama Community College System (ACCS).

Recently, it was announced that there were 30 scholarships available to Alabama residents seeking to pursue a technical education certificate or associate degree in programs related to the automotive manufacturing industry.

Alabama residents, who are interested in automotive-related careers, especially prospective students in North Alabama can apply for a scholarship to attend the automotive manufacturing programs at Drake State.

Application for the scholarship requires a completed application and a resume. In addition, the student must submit a 500-word maximum essay explaining why they want to work in Alabama’s automotive industry. Included in the package, the student must also provide one signed letter of reference, an unofficial high school or college transcript, and a headshot photo.

Individual prospective and current students can be awarded a $1,800 scholarship, which includes tuition, books, and fees associated with the approved program of study. Students with at least a 2.5 GPA are eligible to apply. All application packets must be submitted to dreamitdoitalabama.com/aama/- no later than March 31st.

In addition to offering attractive scholarship opportunities, Drake State continues to build on its workforce-relevant programming. Recently, Drake State hosted free STEM bootcamps for the area’s middle and high school student population. The all-day bootcamps are instrumental in providing opportunities for students to learn about various jobs and perhaps discover a career path they otherwise might not be exposed to. 

On a Saturday in late February, there was a sizable turnout for the bootcamps offered, with thirty-four students participating in the Welding, Engineering Design, or Machine Tool bootcamps. In this all-day event, students had the opportunity to learn new technical skills – skills that could serve as the foundation for manufacturing or could pave the way to careers in science and engineering.

The bootcamp event was made possible in part by Drake State’s multi-year grant from NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP). MUREP supports minority-serving institutions working to increase the number of racially or ethnically underrepresented students, and female students in STEM occupations.

“I took a welding class at Bob Jones High School,” said Cameron Cummings, a high school student who participated in the Welding bootcamp. “I really enjoyed welding. I want to go into computer engineering, so welding is like soldering on a bigger scale. That was one of the main reasons why I got into this.”

“All the designs that they would produce as an engineer one day would have to be machined,” said Tyler Williams, Machine Tool Instructor at Drake State. “The bootcamp allowed students to experience how intricate parts are produced. Working with these young students allowed them to see themselves in a hands-on and highly skilled career.”

There’s also bootcamp opportunities for adults interested in attaining workforce ready training. Whether it’s first-time career venture or adjusting one’s sails to meet the continuously growing staffing demands of the North Alabama manufacturing sector, Drake State has plenty to offer. 

Huntsville has always enjoyed the benefits of a well-established Arts sector, and to meet the needs of creative community, Drake State recently offered an Art Welding bootcamp. In this all-day class, students learned the basics of safety, as well as how to use the equipment, how to weld pieces of metal together effectively, and to produce their very own sculpture. In this case, the finished piece was a log resting on a stand. 

Despite it being a full day of welding, the structure of the bootcamp made the day go by quickly. “This has been really interesting for me because I had a lot of fun with it,” said Lori Connors, bootcamp participant. “The scary part was that freshly welded metal is hot! Even if the metal has returned to its original color, it’s still hundreds of degrees.”

First off, the welding class is outfitted with good safety equipment and tools. Safety and quality make huge difference in course delivery. It’s also important to have a great instructor leading the class.

Welding instructor Joseph Bevill’s started out in the construction industry. Six years ago, he took a teaching job at Drake State. In addition to being a welding instructor, he’s also the division chair of advanced manufacturing and works closely with machine tool, automotive, HVAC, and electrical engineering design.

Despite his fulltime workload and responsibilities, Bevill stresses the importance of staying current in manufacturing and walks the talk.

“I still get to practice some in the field. A lot of good friends of mine are still working in the field, so, I get information from them,” said Bevill. “One of my former students owns welding shop, he’s been in business for a few years. So, I get to help him out, some, too when I’ve got some free time, like spring breaks and stuff like that. So, I can see what’s going on in the industry.”

Staying relevant in the manufacturing industry and keeping apprised of industry trends is crucial with regards to workforce development. “It is advanced manufacturing, and it changes every day,” said Bevill. If you’re not doing some type of work in the field, you’ll get behind.”

For more information, go to: www.drakestate.edu.