FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2016
One Technology Drive Contact: Scott Peters
Linn, Missouri 65051 Phone: 573.897.5109
Phone: 800-743-8324 scott.peters@statetechmo.edu
www.statetechmo.edu
Toyota’s Bodine Aluminum awards $60,000 contribution to State Tech
Linn MO – Toyota’s Bodine Aluminum has awarded State Technical College of Missouri a grant for $60,000 to support the Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) degree program. The contribution provides necessary funding for equipment costs related to the high-tech program.
Bob Lloyd, president and CEO of Bodine Aluminum, presented State Tech President Dr. Donald Claycomb with a ceremonial check during an appreciation ceremony held Monday at the Advanced Manufacturing Technician Center at Lewis and Clark Career Center in St. Charles, MO.
“At Bodine Aluminum our goal is to build quality parts for Toyota vehicles,”said Lloyd. “In order to do that, we need a highly-skilled technical workforce.”
“The AMT program provides students a hands-on work and learn opportunity,” he said. “Whereby they learn concepts and skills in the classroom and are able to apply them directly the next day in a practical way in a manufacturing environment.”
Lloyd commented that in the end, the students graduate debt free with an associate’s degree.
State Tech partners with a consortium of manufacturers in the Saint Louis region to prepare students as multi-skilled manufacturing technicians. In addition to Toyota Bodine, other consortium members include: True Manufacturing Custom Automated Plastic Systems, Inc. (C.A.P.S Inc.), SunEdison Semiconductor, Trinity Industries, Reckitt Benckiser, and FormPak Inc.
The appreciation day was led by Steve Doede, Director of Industry Outreach at State Tech. The ceremony included student-led tours and equipment demonstrations, an overview of the program, and special remarks and recognition from Toyota, Bodine Aluminum, State Tech, and Lewis and Clark Career Center. Presenters included: Dennis Dio Parker, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing Assistant Manager; Jenny Jacobs, State Tech Chief Financial Officer; Kathy Frederking, Lewis and Clark Career Center Director; Nane Lawson, Toyota Bodine Human Resource Development Assistant Manager; Brian Crouse, Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President of Education; John McDaniel, State Tech AMT Chair/Instructor; Jessica Jones, State Tech Academic Support Assistant; and Charla Whalen-Mueller, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing External Affairs.
The college operates the AMT program on the campus of Lewis and Clark Career Center where students are trained in technical classes such as electrical, mechanical, fluid power and robotics. In addition, key manufacturing core exercises including safety culture, workplace organization, problem solving and lean manufacturing as well as the professional behaviors of attendance, initiative, diligence, interpersonal relations, communication and teamwork are imbedded into the curriculum.
Students participating in the program attend classes two days a week and work three days a week at a local manufacturer. Students complete a five semester program earning an Associate of Applied Science Degree.
In 2014, Toyota Bodine selected State Tech as its partner in Missouri to offer the AMT program. Toyota has launched the program in several other states where the company has manufacturing facilities. Students enrolled in the program for the first time in Fall 2015. To learn more about the program visithttp://www.statetechmo.edu/academic/mar/
Ranked among the best nationally, the State Technical College of Missouri serves a unique role as one of the leading two-year technical colleges in Missouri and the Midwest region. State Tech has built a reputation as a highly specialized, student friendly college with an exceptional reputation with business and industry. State Tech stands alone as Missouri’s first and only public higher education institution with a statewide mission devoted solely to technical education at the Associate of Applied Science Degree level. Visit www.statetechmo.eduto learn more.
