Diverse education opportunities give students an edge after they graduate and go to college or prepare for careers. Lowry High School (LHS) and the Mining Industry Foundation for Lowry High School (LMIF) have been continually working together to give students more opportunities and prepare them for a successful future.
A Manufacturing Technologies class, as well as advanced courses, will be offered to the LHS students in the coming school year that will provide free college credits to students who pass the classes, according to Scott Santos, who will be the instructor. These classes will be a part of the Career and Technology Education (CTE) program at LHS.
“Students that foresee themselves in a career in mining or manufacturing production or maintenance, human resources, finance/accounting, engineering, management or any career associated with an automated system should register for this program. A large percentage of our student body will one day work in a career that falls within those categories,” said Santos.
Students will go forth from the classes having learned shop safety, the advancement of manufacturing techniques and automation throughout history, career opportunities in automation, manufacturing, and the local mining industry, and relationships of all of the stakeholders involved in the manufacturing process, as well as hands-on experience with different technologies and machines according to Santos.
“I want to teach this class because students are going to acquire skills that are of particularly high demand today,” and “The skills and certifications that students will acquire through this program will set them apart from other applicants as they pursue careers within our local mining industry, or the manufacturing industry that is growing rapidly in our state,” said Santos.
Students will have the opportunity to gain certification for careers before they’ve even graduated. The following are potential certifications that students will be able to pursue:
• Fundamentals of Mechatronics
• Fundamentals of Fluid Power-Hydraulics/Pneumatics
• Fundamentals of electricity-AC/DC
• Accredited Cobot Certification (IACET)
• MakerBot 3D Printing Certification
“Nationally, there has been a growing understanding of the importance of providing training in the Trades for our students. In partnership with the Mining Industry Foundation, we are seeing an expansion of this focus at Lowry High School. By providing opportunities for our students to make informed decisions and to be prepared for college and or a career, we are better able to prepare a workforce to meet the needs of our local businesses and industries,” said Humboldt County Superintendent, Dave Jensen.
Larger neighboring counties have just begun implementing these types of course curriculums that have been mostly funded by major corporations, speaking to the immeasurable value that is seen in these programs, according to Santos. LMIF will be funding the course at LHS, with Santos leading the charge.
“Scott Santos presented his idea to the Foundation and you can appreciate the passion Scott displays for educating students,” and “The Manufacturing Technologies classes will give students a head start for continuing their education at Great Basin College (GBC),” said the President of the Mining Industry Foundation Board of Trustees, and General Manager at Marigold Mine, Don Dwyer.
Santos explained that Humboldt County is among the first ten schools in the state to offer courses such as this. This opportunity will not only prepare students for a prosperous career, but will also save them time and money.
“Based on the current Nevada Department of Education standards for the secondary Manufacturing Technologies program, GBC awards 5 college credits that go towards our Electrical Systems and Instrumentation Technology programs. For students this is a saving between $800-$1,000,” said CTE College Credit Coordinator at GBC,Sidnie Creamer, in her letter of support for the initiative by LHS to start an Advanced Manufacturing program.
Santos conveyed his gratitude to the Mining Foundation for their monetary support, as it will be a significant investment. The first year’s projected cost total for the investment will be $145,446, year two will be $89,415, and the thirst year will be $129,815, according to Santos’s Purchase Plan that he presented the LMIF.
“We are so fortunate to have the quality and dedication of Mr. Scott Santos in building and leading this new opportunity for our students. He has demonstrated a passion in creating a program that will provide the foundational skills necessary for our students to continue their areas of interest following graduation. I look forward to watching the program grow under his leadership,” said Dr. Jensen.