Florida Advanced Technological Education (FLATE), The National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Center of Excellence in Florida partnered with the National Manufacturing Institute, the South Florida Manufacturers Association (SFMA) to host the “Young Manufacturers Academy” (YMA) in Miami Lakes.
The Academy was held July 28 through August 1 at Miami Lakes Educational Center. The Academy was offered to 16 middle school girls from the Honey Shine Mentoring Program also in Miami Lakes.
“Florida has a diverse manufacturing industry, and FLATE is excited to offer a student summer manufacturing experience in south Florida” said Dr. Marilyn Barger, executive director of FLATE.
The initiative is funded through the National Partnership grant through the Motorola Solutions Foundation Innovation Generation program to engage youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). It is an extension of the “Supporting a Manufacturing Renaissance” efforts.
The YMA introduces students entering grades 7 through 9 to all facets of the manufacturing industry. The Academy is part of the “Dream It. Do It” initiative, a national career awareness and outreach campaign designed to promote a positive image of manufacturing that is sponsored by The Manufacturing Institute in Washington, D.C.
The primary goal of the program is to grow and develop the manufacturing workforce pipeline in the middle grades, a critical juncture in need of particular attention, with an emphasis on addressing girls and minorities from underserved districts with underachieving students.
Activities at the Academy focused on hands-on projects and simulation-based learning. Each activity emphasized developing 21st century skills, like teamwork and communication, needed to prepare students for today's high-tech workplace. Students learned about latest manufacturing concepts, CNC manufacturing and got an overview of high-tech high-paying jobs in Florida. Participants also engaged in a mock career fair capstone event.
For more information, visit www.fl-ate.org and www.madeinflorida.org