Students learn to make parts, find careers at special Calhoun camp
Jun. 13—Colton Naylor tested his skill — and luck — while making precision machine parts this week during a special camp at Calhoun Community College.
The intensive four-day Precision Machining Academy gives dozens of students practical, hands-on exposure to the world of CNC machining, parts design and modeling, said Amber Fortenberry, director of talent development and recruitment for the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, which partners with Calhoun for the event.
There will be another camp in July. Participants gained experience in programming skills, including such tasks as configuring tool offsets, setting up machines and operating equipment safely and proficiently. Students were also introduced to the use of precision measuring tools.
This camp for students entering grades ninth through 12th grades was held at the Advanced Technology Center on Calhoun's Decatur campus.
Naylor, 16, of Hartselle, who is home schooled, said he was drawn to the camp as a sort of career exploration. Machining interested him.
"Just trying to figure out what I want to do," he said.
He learned a lot this week.
"I learned just how complicated machining is. I knew programming was complicated but there is a lot more learning to that than I knew."
He said he "really liked" the machining part of the camp. He said each part had to be programmed before they could make it. He held out something he had made — a tiny cylindrical metal device that lets air pass through. He said it was part of an engine that blows air. He gets to keep the gizmo as a memento.
Fortenberry said there is such a need for machinists in the Decatur-Morgan County area that the camp is a good way to generate interest.
"What's happening is we have a population that is aging out; they are ready for retirement. So, we are really trying to expose these kids to the machining trade and how to work all of the machines so we can get them into the industries that are looking for them."
According to the chamber, those who sponsored the event were able to connect their brand with future workers in the industry while supporting them in gaining valuable, high-demand skills as well as partnering with Calhoun to drive local workforce development.
Fortenberry said sponsors included Indorama Ventures, Industrial Manufacturing Specialties, Nucor Decatur, Joe Wheeler EMC, Redstone Federal Credit Union and Turner Industries.
In addition to learning how parts are machined, the students get to see where these parts wind up, Fortenberry said. For example, the parts they make may end up with United Launch Alliance and end up in space.
— jean.cole@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2361
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Students learn to make parts, find careers at special Calhoun camp
Jun. 13—Colton Naylor tested his skill — and luck — while making precision machine parts this week during a special camp at Calhoun Community College. The intensive four-day Precision Machining Academy gives dozens of students practical, hands-on exposure to the world of CNC machining, parts design and modeling, said Amber Fortenberry, director of talent development and recruitment for the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, which partners with Calhoun for the event. There will be another camp in July. Participants gained experience in programming skills, including such tasks as configuring tool offsets, setting up machines and operating equipment safely and proficiently. Students were also introduced to the use of precision measuring tools. This camp for students entering grades ninth through 12th grades was held at the Advanced Technology Center on Calhoun's Decatur campus. Naylor, 16, of Hartselle, who is home schooled, said he was drawn to the camp as a sort of career exploration. Machining interested him. "Just trying to figure out what I want to do," he said. He learned a lot this week. "I learned just how complicated machining is. I knew programming was complicated but there is a lot more learning to that than I knew." He said he "really liked" the machining part of the camp. He said each part had to be programmed before they could make it. He held out something he had made — a tiny cylindrical metal device that lets air pass through. He said it was part of an engine that blows air. He gets to keep the gizmo as a memento. Fortenberry said there is such a need for machinists in the Decatur-Morgan County area that the camp is a good way to generate interest. "What's happening is we have a population that is aging out; they are ready for retirement. So, we are really trying to expose these kids to the machining trade and how to work all of the machines so we can get them into the industries that are looking for them." According to the chamber, those who sponsored the event were able to connect their brand with future workers in the industry while supporting them in gaining valuable, high-demand skills as well as partnering with Calhoun to drive local workforce development. Fortenberry said sponsors included Indorama Ventures, Industrial Manufacturing Specialties, Nucor Decatur, Joe Wheeler EMC, Redstone Federal Credit Union and Turner Industries. In addition to learning how parts are machined, the students get to see where these parts wind up, Fortenberry said. For example, the parts they make may end up with United Launch Alliance and end up in space. — or 256-340-2361
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Council ready to hire planning director after final candidate couldn't interview this week
May 24—The Decatur City Council majority is ready to move on with their first choice for planning director even though Councilman Billy Jackson wants to interview another candidate. All five councilmen said Clifford Cross, director of Economic Development, Planning and Zoning in Belleville, Illinois, impressed them in his recent interview. Four said this week that they're ready to offer the job to Cross. However, Jackson asked the council on Monday to interview Chad Bowman, planning and development director for West Memphis, Arkansas. He said former Decatur Planning Director Michelle Gilliam-Jordan recommended that they consider Bowman. The rest of the City Council agreed to interview Bowman, but only if he could come to Decatur this week. They said they want to move quickly because Cross said in his interview he is considering other options. Human Resources Director Richelle Sandlin said Tuesday that Bowman informed her that he can't come to Decatur this week. She also said that Cross knows that the City Council's next regular meeting is not until June 2. Council President Jacob Ladner and fellow councilmen Hunter Pepper, Kyle Pike and Carlton McMasters said they aren't willing to wait to interview Bowman even though they can't make an official decision until the next council meeting. "If Bowman can't meet this week, my intention is to move forward with Cross," said Ladner, who added that he won't be available next week. Pike reiterated his stance that he would be OK with interviewing Bowman if it were done quickly. But, since that's not the case, he said they need to move forward with Cross. "I don't believe we should risk losing a candidate that all five council members like," Pike said. Jackson said he doesn't think the City Council should be in such a hurry, especially since the city hasn't had a planning director since 2009 and they're risking missing out on a candidate who could be a superstar. Gilliam-Jordan was the last planning director certified in planning before leaving to work in Huntsville in 2009. The director of development, whether it was Wally Terry or now Dane Shane, has supervised the department that was run by a planning manager the last 10 years. The council upgraded the position to planning director in November. "It's so important that we get absolutely the right person for that position," Jackson said. "We have interviewed a candidate who is very good in everybody's opinion, but we do have a very good candidate out there who I would like to interview, and we should do everything that we can to interview this person." Jackson said he thinks the council "shouldn't rush into this situation" even though Cross says he has other opportunities. "We should respect that and work in the quickest way that we possibly can," Jackson said. "I don't think we should rush into a decision based on his schedule versus the schedule of the citizens of Decatur." He said he doesn't have a problem with the possibility of appointing Cross. He said he just thinks it's important that the council do its due diligence in the search, and that includes an interview with Bowman. After interviewing three candidates and holding a reception for two of them, Bowman and Cross were among the five supplemental applicants added late in the selection process. Sandlin initially recommended Cross because of his 25 years in planning. She added Bowman with "reservation because of his limited scope of experience." — or 256-340-2432
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Decatur City Schools hopes to occupy new pre-K center June 5
May 24—Decatur City Schools Superintendent Michael Douglas hopes to get into the new consolidated pre-K center that's under construction by June 5, if all goes to plan. Tours of the building will likely not be scheduled until late July, however, DCS spokeswoman Elizabeth Gentle said. The first DCS consolidated pre-kindergarten center is located behind West Decatur Elementary on Fourth Street Southwest. Dustin Free, construction project manager for Decatur City Schools, gave an update on the progress during a recent board meeting: —Exterior decorative metal wall panels are being installed and are about 65% complete. —Cafeteria furniture is being stored on site. —Classroom furniture is set to arrive in June. —Playground equipment is on site. —Landscaping and irrigation started last week. —Americans with Disabilities Act compliance has been certified. Douglas said the new pre-K Center will be open for the 2025-26 school year. He said hopefully by June 5 the building will be "substantially complete," and that the district can occupy it. Jennifer Edwards, principal at West Decatur Elementary, will become principal at the new pre-K center, called BEST Academy. The academy will bring all the pre-K centers throughout the district under one roof, which Douglas sees as a positive. "One of the obvious benefits of the academy is that 4- and 5-year-olds will only be around those their age rather than around 11-year-olds and 12-year-olds as in the past," Douglas said. "For a teacher, rather than being the only teacher in a building teaching pre-K, now you've got 23 other teachers to bounce ideas off of, plan with. And rather than having a principal trying to keep track of six grade levels, they can laser focused on the instruction of pre-K." Another advantage is less variation in the quality of instruction. "There are tons of benefits to this set up, including the ability to have consistency across 12 schools. When you put them all together all in one school you are hoping to get the same product," Douglas said. About 50 people will work at BEST Academy. "There will be 23 classrooms, with each classroom having a teacher and an aide, that's 46 people, then there will be a bookkeeper, secretary, principal and physical education teacher," Douglas said. "We will be moving furniture throughout the summer and we will have a grand opening before school starts." Currently, there are 18 pre-K classrooms located in Decatur's 12 elementary schools, including three special needs rooms. The playground will be behind the pre-K Center, next to the storm shelters, and part of the playground will be designated for special needs students. Free said the special needs portion of the playground will feature all handicap-accessible equipment and wheelchair access. — or 256-340-2361
