Vermont Business Magazine FUJIFILM Dimatix Inc, has announced that their STEM Internship: High Tech Manufacturing & Engineering has entered into its second year. The program is a partnership between Lebanon High School (NH), Thetford Academy (Vermont), Hypertherm (NH), and FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc (NH). While the concept of teaching high school students about STEM isn’t a new one, this program is unique because it combines onsite learning at manufacturing facilities and curriculums that earn course credits.
STEM Internship: High Tech Manufacturing and Engineering takes place during the fall semester and explores the manufacturing industry and employment opportunities in Vermont and New Hampshire. The goal is for students to gain competency in the STEM skills needed for successful employment.
This is achieved by giving them hands-on experiences in all aspects of the businesses, including but not limited to history, marketing, assembly, accounting, engineering, research and development. “We’re able to show them the more technical side of what manufacturing can offer. This year we’ve integrated Google Classroom, which adds an online element to the class, and we’re implementing more projects based around 3D printing,” said Chris Hamilton, STEM Program Academic Coordinator at FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
Through these experiences, students learn responsibility, the importance of sticking to a plan, how to be a leader, project management, procurement, resume writing, interview skills, and many more lessons that will help them find and keep good jobs after graduation. Manufacturing is a growing sector of the economy and is constantly in need of qualified workers, so the intention of the program is to help both the students and the businesses.
The year started with participating students from Thetford Academy been coming to Dimatix every weekday afternoon while Lebanon students went to Hypertherm. At the end of October, they switched places. The program ends on December 14th with the students scheduled to present their final slideshow project to their teachers, mentors and families on the 16th. Dimatix is honored to be a part of bringing this different and valuable learning experience to the Upper Valley and hopes to inspire similar programs within the community as well as expansion within our own.
FUJIFILM Dimatix Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation, is the world’s premier provider of piezoelectric, drop-on-demand industrial inkjet printheads.
Source: FUJIFILM Dimatix Inc (Lebanon, NH, November 15, 2019)