Rocklin, Calif.- On October 29, Rocklin High School students will demonstrate the design and manufacturing skills they are learning at the Grand Opening of the Engineering Support Technology lab newly renovated with support from the Sierra College Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Collaborative
Celebration presentations begin at 5:30 in the Tech Lecture Hall at Rocklin High School located at 5301 Victory Lane in Rocklin followed by student demonstrations and tours of the design and fabrication labs (M4 & M3) at 6 PM. The public is invited to the event to see how students are being prepared for college and careers in Advanced Manufacturing.
Using industrial design software and fabrication equipment, Engineering Support Technology students explore how to make a better model of an excavation robot that could work on the moon, produce community service projects such as a bean bag toss cutout for Valley View Elementary School and make beautiful customized projects they can use and display.
Dan Frank, Engineering Support Technology teacher, has a passion for giving students the confidence to turn their ideas into a concept, develop the design and then produce a finished product. “When I was a student, I worked in the UC Davis engineering shop making projects for research,” said Frank. “I discovered how fun it was to work with metal, figure something out, and see the resulting product being used. In this class, I mentor and challenge students while I share the thrill of using advanced Manufacturing equipment to convert a scrap of metal into an amazing project.”
Carol Pepper-Kittredge, Director, Sierra College Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT), explained that the Sierra STEM Collaborative works with high schools to prepare students to study mechatronics, welding, engineering, or drafting and engineering support at Sierra College. “The new lab at Rocklin High School introduces students to the exciting career opportunities in design and manufacturing,” said Pepper-Kittredge. “Dan Frank is inspiring students by giving them real world experiences to channel their creativity. His students have a jump start on making career plans.”
 The Sierra College Center for Applied Competitive Technologies serves manufacturers and technology companies with customized training & technical support; provides entrepreneurs with access to rapid prototyping and other manufacturing technologies; and through the Sierra STEM Collaborative supports career technical education programs in manufacturing & product development, engineering & design pathways at the high school and college level.
