Last week, nearly 1,000 eighth grade students across Kosciusko County participated in educational and career opportunities in advanced manufacturing through OrthoWorx’s DiscoverME (Manufacturing Experience) program.
According to an OrthoWorx news release, DiscoverME provides community- and industry-responsive curriculum, introducing manufacturing at a pivotal time when students are beginning to think about high school coursework and their career interests. Students experienced the assembly at TRAC at Warsaw Community High School, where they participated in hands-on learning stations before going out and touring one of the manufacturing facilities in the community.
“We really enjoy hosting DiscoverME tours at Precision Medical. Watching our team interact with students highlights the importance of these events.” said Paige Troyer, Human Resources Director at Precision Medical Technologies. “These young students represent the future of our industry, and it’s so interesting to see their curiosity and enthusiasm for orthopedics, even at the eighth-grade level.”
Middle school students from Tippecanoe Valley, Warsaw, Wawasee and Witko were exposed to the different jobs available in the manufacturing industry and learned about educational pathways to get there. Field trip industries during this year’s program included Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Instrument Development, Medartis, Paragon Medical, Polywood, Precision Medical Technologies, and Zimmer Biomet.
“Sometimes opportunities just aren’t right around the corner, so DiscoverME is an important way for young people to visualize how they can connect their skills and interests to Kosciusko County’s vibrant manufacturing industry. We are doing our part,” said Allyn Decker, vice president of operations. Engagement, OrthoWorx. “With the right training and development, high-tech, high-paying careers can begin right after high school, and we’re excited to help students get started on that career path today. .”
In addition to the DiscoverME program, OrthoWorx plans to release three virtual reality experiences in partnership with iXplore™ and industry partners. The three programs are CNC Machining, Grinding, and Entrepreneurship, and all 8th grade students in the county will experience the programs in January and February 2025.
