Another MoldMaking Technology Top 10 T-shirt Sighting

This time it went to a Charles Robel—the latest recipient of the “Outstanding Student” Award at Waukesha County Technical College. Along with the title and MMT tee, he was awarded a toolbox donated by The Tool, Die, & Machining Association of Wisconsin and MSC Industrial Supplies from their “Tools To Succeed” program.

My friend Bob [Novak], Moldmaking/CNC Machining Instructor over at Waukesha County Technical College told me the other day that it was determined by the tool and die instructors of WCTC that Charles was their outstanding student this past semester. He is currently employed at Integrity Wire EDM in Sussex, WI. He is also an Iraq War veteran who severed three tours of duty.

“We are very proud of him and what he has accomplished since he has been in our program. We look forward to his continued success as he enters the second year this semester,” notes Bob.

Bob went on to express that Charles is an “outstanding student” because beyond performing "outstandingly" in class, he has been a positive role model/leader to all the students in the program. "Charles brings a combination of maturity, pride, and determination to succeed to class every day, which has resulted in his selection as Waukesha County Technical College’s Outstanding Tool & Die Student this past semester. He is the type of student that makes my job rewarding and enjoyable."

When asked how he felt about winning, Charles said, "I am honored and surprised to win this. I hope that I can live up to the expectations. It was very cool to show my son both the tool box and the tee shirt.”

Ken Mahuta, President of Mahuta Tool Corp., and involved with the Tool Die & Machining Association of Wisconsin, explains that “The tool box scholarship was started several years ago. We were looking for a scholarship to complement the EL Simeth Scholarship. The Tool Die & Machining Association of Wisconsin asked MSC if they would donate tool boxes to students in the tool & die area. They said they would. For several years the scholarship committee administered the box to recipients. Today the instructors administer the scholarship. It works better this way. The instructors are more involved with the students and can use the box to motivate students and select the best candidate. We have been doing this twice a year. We put metal tags on the boxes that advertise the TDMAW and MSC, along with the “Surgeons of Steel” Logo. This way the boxes can sit on someone’s bench for the next 40 years advertising this effort.”

MSC Industrial Supplies provides up to six 11-drawer Kennedy toolboxes per semester, which are valued at more than $500 each, and are awarded to students enrolled in a Machine Tool Operations Program or Tool & Die Program at any accredited Wisconsin technical college. Follwing are the guidelines/criteria used to determine qualified applicants: minimum grade point average of 2.5; must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credits per semester; must provide recommendations from two persons unrelated to himself/herself to the scholarship application; and, must be resident of Wisconsin. For more information call TDMAW at 262-532-2440 or email toolmaker@tdmaw.org.