CTE Students Explore Modern Manufacturing

Over 200 area students explored modern manufacturing careers during the Oct. 4 MFG Day at Thermo Fisher Scientific.

By: Benjamin Rickert, BCS Communications

Over 200 area students explored modern manufacturing careers during the October 4 MFG Day hosted by Asheville’s Thermo Fisher Scientific. North Buncombe High welding students and teachers represented BCS during the plant tour and listened in on panel discussions about the future of America’s workforce. The event reinforced the value of the knowledge and skills students gain through Career & Technical Education (CTE) courses in Buncombe County Schools (BCS) and public schools across the nation.

“It’s important for students to connect their academic experiences with real-world applications,” explained BCS CTE Director Taylor Baldwin. “Today, they had the pleasure of seeing firsthand the jobs that are available in their own back yard that relate to the career tech courses they are taking.”

North Buncombe welding students Aiyana Hicks and Austin Smith were impressed by the scope of the fabrication work they witnessed, and recognized some of the tools they saw in use along the tour.

“I could see myself working here some day,” Hicks said. “I’m really excited to see the opportunities that are available to us.”

“It was definitely helpful to see all they offer and do,” Smith added.

The event was organized through a partnership between the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board (MAWDB), the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County. According to a MAWDB media advisory, manufacturers will need to fill 4.6 million jobs over the next decade with highly skilled designers, programmers, and operators of technology.

The MFG Day brought local and state officials, students, educators, and manufacturing representatives together to “introduce young people and others in the community to the thriving manufacturing industry… and highlight the high-tech and innovative companies that are solving tomorrow’s challenges today,” the advisory continued.

"I have a lot of good students interested in a welding career and hope that visits like this will boost that interest," said CTE and welding instructor Mr. Daryl Fox.

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