Wearing a black virtual-reality helmet, with a small television screen inside to see what he was doing with his hands, Greg Arty of Waukegan received a lesson in stick welding at the College of Lake County’s Advanced Technology Center.
“It’s pretty cool,” he said. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”
Arty was one of dozens of people learning about welding, industrial technology and other programs at an open house at the college’s Advanced Technology Center (ATC) Wednesday in Gurnee exposing the community to the facility, which opened in August of last year.
Miguel Mireles, the college’s dean of engineering, math and physical science, said the open house introduces people not only to welding and industrial technology at the ATC, but also programs leading to manufacturing careers on the Grayslake and Waukegan campuses.
“We’re part of the employee pipeline to the jobs manufacturers in Lake County so desperately need,” Mireles said. “We’ve had people here from area high schools learning about high paying, high technology manufacturing careers.”
Along with welding and industrial technology, Mireles said programs leading to certificates and an associate degree are offered in HVAC and automation robotics at both the Grayslake and Waukegan campuses.
Mireles said precision machine technology, automotive technology, automobile collision repair, precision machining technology, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering are taught at Grayslake, while computer aided design is taught online.
Though enthused about stick welding, Arty said he came to learn about the program for his son, who is 21 and working in restaurant management. He liked the potential in what he saw.
Jody Ditumasso and her son, Logan Feinstein, were also watching the stick welding demonstration. He is currently learning the skill at the Lake County Tech Campus. They were there to expand their knowledge.
“We want to know more about the program,” Ditumasso said. “He’s already in the dual-credit program at the tech campus. He will be able to start immediately.”
While people were learning about the ATC, students like Ivan Barrera of Waukegan were developing problem-solving skills in the industrial technology classroom and laboratory. He plans to earn his associate degree this spring, and plans to study engineering at a four-year university.
“I’m troubleshooting by stopping the motor to find out what is wrong with the system so I can fix it,” Barrera said, as he used a laptop computer sitting at a table with engines and tools.
Dave Wooten, a teacher in the industrial technology department said unlike Barrera, 95% of the students learning at the ATC are part of the apprentice program. Students work four days a week plying the skills they learn at school, and spend one day in class.
Wooten said they work in jobs like industrial maintenance and building engineering. Their employer pays for their education as well as paying them approximately $45,000 a year.
“The company pays tuition books and fees, everything,” Wooten said. “At the end, they have an associate degree, three certificates and zero student debt.”
Helping Lake County manufacturers find skilled workers is an important part of the college’s mission. Mireles said Lake County is the second-largest manufacturing county in the state, with nearly 100,000 people employed in the factories.
“The College of Lake County is committed to ensuring a skilled workforce talent pipeline exists to support industry needs and future growth opportunities,” Mireles said.
Since the ATC opened nearly 15 months ago, Mireles said the industrial technology program has grown 209%, the welding curriculum 55% and the overall manufacturing courses at all campuses grew 92%.
“Most of the growth is attributed to the dual-credit program and program expansion,” Mireles said. “It’s an opportunity to earn college credits while you’re still in high school, and you enter college at a higher level,” he added, referring to the program.
