23-05-2025
North Scott Community Schools receive $15K grant for manufacturing education
The North Scott Community School District is bolstering its commitment to manufacturing education.
'We feel like we are doing a wonderful job placing students into the building trade, the different skills trade, the manufacturing within the Quad Cities because there is a huge need, and a huge opportunity for students after they graduate here,' said David Linnenbrink, North Scott's industrial technology teacher.
The school district received a $15,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation.
'We're just super excited for the opportunities that our students are going to have,' Linnenbrink said.
The grant will be used for scholarships ranging between $500 and $2,500 for technology training and machining-based engineering programs.
'A lot of the baby boomers are retiring and getting older so we know we need to fill those occupations and build a pipeline to fill those machinist jobs,' Linnenbrink said.
North Scott's machinist program is relatively new, with about 10 students, while the high school's welding program has about 80 students.
'I don't know if they are as educated about the opportunities in the machining area, or welding, or manufacturing engineering,' Linnenbrink said. 'We are really excited to continue to promote this program, and then recruit them into the program, and get them into those classes and obviously get them placed into businesses that support that pipeline in the Quad Cities. It's in dire need of machinists.'
Over at Jewell Group, North Scott senior Aidan McLaughlin is working a machinist apprenticeship. He looks forward to the impact the grant has on North Scott.
'I feel like that will be very good for us, as a school, because that will bring in a lot more kids because they will have more machinery to actually get their hands on in the shop at the all about setting up current Lancers for future success,' McLaughlin said.
'(The grant will) expand upon the opportunities our students have right now, and this is a good way to build and expand upon the machining program,' Linnenbrink said.
The North Scott Community School District has two years to use the money. It still can apply for the grant every year.
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