High school students in the Iowa Quad Cities will have new opportunities to learn manufacturing techniques. Today, the Alcoa Foundation announced it will give $75,000 to Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. The money will help establish an Advanced Manufacturing Career Academy at the college's Blong Technology Center in Davenport.
The academy is a two semester program for high school students and includes courses in Industrial Math and Measurement and Safety. In conjunction with EICC's Engineering Technology program, the academy is designed to train students to become manufacturing technicians in two years or less.
Alcoa spokesman John Riches says manufacturing still offers well-paying jobs and that students enrolled in the Career Academy are uniquely qualified for those jobs.
Dean of Concurrent Enrollment Daniel Marvin says students who are unfamiliar with manufacturing will gain valuable hands-on experience.
20 high school students from the Iowa Quad Cities will begin attending academy courses next fall.
