NVCC’s evening cohort is a small but mighty class of eight young men who are starting their final semester.  The entire cohort received the CEO Incentive Award: Michael Andrews, Brayan Chabla, Matthew Defeilce, Brandon Henry, Farrell John, Steven Leizon, Joshua Martelli and Evan Sizemore.   

Presented to students who have maintained a “B or better average,” have good class attendance and the approval of their shop instructor, the award is an incentive for academic excellence that includes a free class in additive manufacturing. The additive manufacturing class is held for three evenings with theory and design to start and culminate in a 3D printing of their project. 

Dr. Dresdner asked the students what made the difference in their achievement of this award. They all agreed it was continually repeating and practicing their Tooling U program until they had mastered the details. Tooling U is a tailored online curriculum aligned with industry standards and certifications that reinforces theory so that the students are ready for hands-on application. 

Joe DeFeo, Director of the AMTC program, commented that “the students are eager to start this semester, as they will be placed in a paid internship in a few weeks which can lead to a meaningful career in the manufacturing field.”  Students graduate with a certificate in Advanced Manufacturing Technology after two semesters.