Five
years ago, when the Eli Whitney Manufacturing Technology Department
held their fall Trade and Technology Advisory Committee (TTAC)
meeting, only two outside individuals were supporting them. This
past Thursday, at the April 24, 2008 Manufacturing Technology
TTAC Committee meeting, over forty people were present to support
the department.
Supporters
praised the positive interaction they experienced with the Manufacturing
students, as well as the efforts of their two talented Manufacturing
instructors. Mr. Angel Perez, Manufacturing Technology Department
Head, who opened and closed the program, explained the Tooling
University Program in which the Manufacturing students participate.
Mr. Tom Kenyon, Manufacturing Technology Department Instructor
who emceed the event, introduced several supporting speakers
amid his own presentations, including his mentoring program and
his Awards Night support.
Several
impromptu speakers, including: Lou Mangini, Congressional Aide
to Rosa DeLauro; Rob Simmons, former Congressman and current
State of Connecticut’s 1st
Business Advocate; Nick Lavorato, Jerry Clupper, and Ken
Dugan from the New Haven Manufacturing Association; and several
others. Everyone lauded the Manufacturing program at Whitney
Tech and proclaimed their support.
The
students who greeted visitors at the front door escorted them
to the Manufacturing Technology shop for a brief tour before
bringing them to a teleconferencing meeting at the Media Center.
Immediately following the meeting, the students led the group
of inspired participants to a delicious lunch provided by the
Culinary Arts Department. Manufacturing Technology Sophomore
students Kynesha Mack and Italo Diaz both said that they had
fun and felt confident when they saw the number of supporters
in attendance who were positioning themselves as potential employers.
Many other Manfacturing Technology students also escorted
guests, delivered presentations, or sat among the visitors to
share their experiences. |
