WMA is participating in the USD 259 Career Fairs at the high schools.  The next fair is March 7, 2012 at South High from 8am to 3pm.  Any interested WMA member that wants to display at the fair please contact Jim Means, WMA Member at Large and USD 259 Tech Ed Administrator at 973-4511.  If you want to assist WMA with their booth contact Steve Flesher, WMA Scholarship Chair at 260-5239.

WICHITA MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR USD 259 NORTH HIGH – AVIATION SHEET METAL AND NORTHWEST HIGH – MACHINE SHOP

Many years ago Wichita Area Technical College (WATC) had a certification program that awarded a Certified Manufacturing Specialist (CMS) certificate to students who completed a specific curriculum.  During the planning and development of the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) at Jabara Airport, WMA sought permission from WATC to utilize this certification program at the High School level.  This is important as the CMS certificate is recognized by all the major employers and most of tier 1 and tier 2 sub-contractors.  WMA has finally been granted the rights to use the exams and to grant certificates to qualifying high school seniors.  The first exams will be administered in Spring 2011.

Minimum qualifications:  The students must have 95% attendance, have a minimum of C+ grade average and be on track to graduate.  They must also pass 4 CMS exams in the following subject areas: Applied Shop Math,  Aerospace Safety, Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing and Global Professional Standards.

 The granting of a CMS certificate should allow a high school graduate to obtain a better “entry level” job in the manufacturing community.  They enter the workforce with many of the basic skills that employers often spend months or years teaching new employees. This will undoubtedly help local industry to hire qualified people and as our work force begins to look at replacing the baby boomers as they retire, these new hires will be in place to learn from the boomers the “tribal knowledge” that exists in many manufacturing companies.  WMA understands that we can not lose this knowledge and allow it to retire with the boomer generation.  We have in place the ability to educate and train the next generation, so manufacturing can continue to be a backbone of this city and our country.

Please make sure your Human Resources department is aware of this new certificate being issued to high school graduates and gives these prospective new hires the consideration they deserve.

 Mac Barnett, 2010 Education Chair, Ceco, Inc. & Herb Coin, 2011 Education Chair, Murdock Companies, Inc

Wichita State University College of Engineering is offering a Competitive Innovation Accelerator Solicitation Grant.  Click HERE for more information on this grant. 

USD 259 High School Technical Education Program Newsletter

We continue to support technical education at North and Northwest High School and throughout Wichita through mentoring and providing needed material and equipment.  As the new National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) becomes a reality at Jabara Airport we will continue to invest in our community through involvement with curriculum and training so Wichita remains a globally competitive community.

WMA purchased and delivered to North High School Sheet Metal program 25 rivet setters,  25 bucking bars, a C yoke rivet squeeze and a foot control pedal on March 14, 2011.  The Seniors in the program are currently preparing for the WATC certification test to be administered in late April 2011.  We continue to support North and Northwest High School through our donations of time and items.