On Oct. 17, 2014 nearly 100 girls visited Sierra College, were inspired by entrepreneurial women in tech fields, made hands-on projects in labs and met for round table discussions with mentors from local companies.
Archive for the ‘STEM Career Exploration’ Category
Manufacturing Day events in October
Thursday, August 7th, 2014
Sierra College and SME Sacramento Valley have partnered to connect schools and businesses for National Manufacturing Day and events throughout the month of October. The goal is to make students aware of STEM education paths that lead to advanced manufacturing careers. There are many opportunities for students to become designers, engineers and fabricators with companies in Placer and Nevada counties.
Students enrolled in Career Technical Education courses in high school can further their education at Sierra College earning certificates and degrees. With technical skills, students can secure internships and part-time work with employers to gain practical skills and earn money to pay for their education.
By attending tours, students learn more about what local manufacturing firms produce and determine if they can envision themselves working in the environment. They can also gain insight into the hiring process and make connections. Students find it especially interesting to talk directly with employees about their work and see how they use advanced manufacturing techniques on the job. The students often discover that the tools and software they are using in the classroom are directly applicable to the workplace.
Businesses can work with faculty members to customize the tour. For example, RobbJack, a high-end cutting tool manufacturer located in Lincoln CA, offered a tour to trigonometry students at Colfax High School. Throughout the tour, employees explained how trigonometry was used on the job. The company also developed sample math problems based on real life situations in designing and fabricating tools.
To learn more about the 2014 activities in October for National Manufacturing Day, check out the flyer (SME No CA Manufacturing Day Oct 2014 emailweb) developed to invite companies to participate. Teachers can contact Carol Pepper-Kittredge, CACT Director, Sierra College and manager of the Sierra College STEM Collaborative.
CMTA Champions of Manufacturing Summit
Monday, May 19th, 2014The California Manufacturers and Technology Association will host a live webcast on June 18, 2014.
CMTA Champions of Manufacturing Summit
Hosted by Adam Carolla, hear about the growth in California manufacturing. These firms have been selected as Champions of Manufacturing:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
California Steel Industries
Fathom
California Custom Fruits and Flavors
Vista Metals
Parallax
Keystone Engineering Company
Forward this postcard to your friends.
Talking Directly to Advanced Manufacturing Employees Inspires Students
Wednesday, November 6th, 2013
Del Oro High School Students Tour Progressive Technology
Students participating in tours of Sacramento manufacturers repeatedly reported that the direct interaction with technicians, engineers and staff had the most impact of them. Many said that it solidified their education and career plans. The tours were part of the National Manufacturing Day and organized by Sierra College Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT) and the Sierra Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) Collaborative.
An Oakmont High School student said, “It definitely made me more sure of my plans to pursue higher education for engineering and gave me a more clear idea what a future job might look like.”
Dan Frank, who teaches Engineering Support Technology at Rocklin High School, toured RobbJack in Lincoln, CA with his students. “As a result of the tour, my students seemed more committed to the program and can see themselves becoming technicians and engineers,” said Frank. “Students really connected to individual employees who talked to them about welding, organizing the shop using 7S or programming CNC machines to create prototypes.”
Teachers also say that the experiences are enriching their curriculum with applied academics and 21st Century Skills.
Learn more about the impact of high school STEM students touring local businesses as part of the National Manufacturers Day and how teachers are using the experience to help students refine their interest in Advanced Manufacturing careers as well as bringing real world applications into their classrooms by reading: STEM Teachers See Impact of Manufacturing Day Tours Organized by Sierra College.
Colfax Student Movies Highlight Sierra STEM Impact
Thursday, October 31st, 2013Colfax High School students who benefited from the freshmen Tech Essentials course supported by Sierra College STEM, recently made these STEM interview movies as sophomores. Thanks to Wade Wolff who guided these students in producing this project. The interviews with teachers, counselors and the principal describe the impact that the Sierra STEM Collaborative has had at Colfax High School. Click the links below to see the four movies on the Colfax You Tube ColfaxMultimedia Channel.
Tech Essentials Team – The Colfax High School Tech Essentials teaching team talks about the positive impact the Sierra STEM Collaborative partnership. The support made it possible to create a Tech Essentials program and curriculum for freshmen. That model is now being used through the Placer Union High School District.
Principal – Principal Rick Spears talks about the Sierra College STEM Collaborative and the CTE program at Colfax High. Teachers have benefited from collaboration time, professional development and cutting edge tools. As a result, all Colfax students are being exposed to STEM Curriculum and opportunities after high school.
Career College Counselor – Career College counselor Bobbi Jo Forsyth talks about how the Career Cruising program, supplied by Sierra College STEM Collaborative, is helping her do her job at Colfax High School and attract students, especially girls, to Science, Technology, Engineering & Math.
Counselor – Counselor Rachel Dalton talks about using the Career Cruising program at Colfax High School. Students start using it as freshmen and can use it throughout high school to explore careers, discover their interests, research colleges and make career plans.
The students who made these movies gained valuable skills from the Tech Essentials course that all freshmen take at Colfax High School to learn applied academics. The course taught them to teamwork, project management and documentation as well as provided an introduction to Career Technical Education courses covering engineering, metal fabrication, woodworking, electronics, multi-media and photography. Sierra STEM provides support to the teacher team that created this Tech Essentials course and has supplied equipment to bring the design and innovation labs up to date.
Girls inspired to consider nontraditional STEM Careers at Sierra College
Wednesday, April 24th, 2013
Sierra College faculty inspired high school girls, instilled new confidence and invited them to pursue technical careers at the first Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) event held on Friday, April 19. 
Small groups, hands-on on projects, female role models, encouraging professors and a warm welcome to Sierra College were all part of the strategy to inspire girls at the NEW event according to Carol Pepper-Kittredge, Director, Center for Applied Competitive Technology Center (CACT), Sierra College. Held at the Rocklin campus, girls from Roseville, Nevada City, Truckee and communities in between were introduced to Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) education and careers paths.
“We wanted these girls to know that they can succeed in nontraditional careers and make 
a difference for their families, community and the world,” said Pepper-Kittredge. “The event was designed to engage girls, and help them see themselves attending Sierra College and taking computer, design, welding, Mechatronics and other Career Technical Education (CTE) classes.”
Weld Expo at Sierra College Saturday, April 27
Wednesday, April 24th, 2013
Discover your passion for welding, see the latest welding equipment, talk with experts, try welding, enroll in TIG or MIG advanced seminars, check out virtual welding, meet faculty and students, see pipe welding demonstrations and so much more at Weld Expo at Sierra College on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 9 am to 4 pm. Free admission and free parking.
KNCO interviews Carol Pepper-Kittredge on attracting girls to nontraditional STEM Careers
Thursday, April 18th, 2013On Friday, April 19, girls from Placer and Nevada county high schools will experience what it might be like to study Mechatronics, Welding, Drafting & Engineering Support and other Career Technical Education programs that are nontraditional for women. Listen to the April 18 (10:25am) KNCO interview with Carol Pepper-Kittredge, CACT Director, Sierra College to learn more about this event aimed at attracting young women to STEM careers — Nontraditional Employment for Women Workshop.
NEW Flyer Sierra College STEM Event to allow girls to experience nontraditional education paths
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Girls Explore Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) at Sierra College
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013On Friday, April 19, at the NEW Event, high school girls, in groups of less than 10, will meet Sierra College faculty, create a project and learn about careers that are nontraditional for women such as welding, mechatronics, automotive and drafting.
This intimate NEW event will give girls a welcoming introduction to a technical education path at Sierra College. They will see labs, use tools, build projects, meet female college students and learn about careers. The event is designed to connect with girls and inspire their career plans.
At the Sierra College Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) Event expect:
- Girls doing hands-on projects using power and hand-tools in college labs.
- Students using diagnostic equipment to troubleshoot basic mechanical issues on a car.
- Women designing with 3D software and seeing 3D printing or additive manufacturing.
- Females learning basic fabrication skills to make their own metal flower vase.
- Girls interacting with faculty and college students at six different labs on campus.
Businesses seek more employees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Women are underrepresented in these fields. Attracting female students to technical careers will help supply workers needed to maintain a global competitiveness and provide living wage employment to women.
Sierra STEM Collaborative supports Tahoe Truckee Career Fair
Friday, January 25th, 2013
Sierra College and the Sierra STEM Collborative staff contributed to the success of the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District STEM Career Fair held in Fall 2012. The Sierra Sun reported on the event on November 7.
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