Getting Busy
We have been following Cardinal Manufacturing for a few years now. We've featured them in print, online, at trade events and in videos. This innovative high school vocational manufacturing program is still growing! I recently caught up with founder Craig Cegielski and one of his students Lauren Jaskowski to get an update on what they are working on now, and boy, are they busy! Busy building with a virtual architect, among many other things.
Gardner Business Media and MMT have been following Cardinal Manufacturing for a few years now. We've featured them in print and online, at trade events and conferences and in videos. This innovative high school vocational manufacturing program--which operates as a commercial business that gives students a chance to gain real-life experience in running a business and having a career--is still growing! I recently caught up with founder Craig Cegielski and one of his students Lauren Jaskowski to get an update on what they are working on now, and boy, are they busy! Busy building with a virtual architect, among many other things.
"We have been super busy working on different projects. Currently, we are working with a virtual architect designing and drawing our dream shop and seeking funding, so that we can pursue this project. Adding onto our shop would allow us to take the program to the next level. Hopefully, providing resources and training to schools wishing to replicate our program," says Lauren.
Here are some of the items currently on Craig's agenda:
On April 4th he is headed to Hershey, Pennsylvania to speak at the Opportunity of America Conference. From there he is headed to Washington DC to meet with the U.S. Department of Education to promote their model of advanced manufacturing education.
Earlier this year Craig hosted a workshop to show other schools how to implement a student-run business. Twenty-eight people from across the country attended.
They also made another episode with Titan American Built this past summer and it aired in December. Craig and a few of the Cardinal Manufacturing employees traveled to Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin to check out the filming.
They have a tentative meeting set up with Senator Johnson in Washington DC in April.
Craig and a few students presented at the Moraine Park Technical College this past fall about the program.
On March 29th they are having 11 of the Wisconsin State Representatives visit the school to learn more about the program. They are hoping to become the national model for advanced manufacturing education.
On April 28th Craig is speaking to 7 Rivers Alliance, which is a leadership council dedicated to advancing economic growth of southwest Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa.
Then he heads to the St. Croix Valley Employers Association to speak about how human resources can partner with local schools (high schools and Colleges) to develop future talent.
They also just finished a project for the Norweigen Ski Jumping team who was in town. One of the skiers broke his boot, so they brought it to Cardinal where one of the students made an aluminum part that attached to the boot and allowed him to keep competing. He ended up doing very well and a bunch of the students went to the event, watched him jump and met him after the competition!
Here is a picture of the part made for the ski jumping boot.
When it comes to funding, Cardinal has been contacted by HOUT Company who donated the entire IMTS show booth, and two large lathes were donated by a local industry manufacturer for Cardinal to sell, so they can purchase additional equipment they can use in their shop. Their latest technology purchases have included two new Haas CNC Mills, Autodesk Inventor HSM CAM software, a new manual mill, a Mitutoyo CMM and a new television. Also, Nex Gen CAM Company has offered a free full day of CAM training.
If you are interested in attending a Cardinal Manufacturing Workshop contact Craig at (715)-533-4473 or via email at cegielskic@esschools.k12.wi.us. Registration information can also be found here.
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