Lynch touts SST program | SeacoastOnline.com

Technology, engineering training to double in N.H.

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Seacoast School of Technology welding instructor Jonathan Theberge, left, explains to Gov., John Lynch about one of the jobs a student is working on.Deb Cram/dcram@seacoastonline.com

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EXETER ? Safety goggles in tow, Gov. John Lynch toured the Seacoast School of Technology Friday to see the impact of its manufacturing-related programs.

Lynch visited the school's facilities for programs including welding technologies, pre-engineering, computer programming, and automotive technologies, speaking to students and instructors about their accomplishments and goals along the way.

"As I travel around New Hampshire, businesspeople continually tell me that they need certain types of workers ... they're looking for the same skills that they're teaching here at the Seacoast School of Technology," Lynch said.

The Seacoast School of Technology offers 12 programs and teaches nearly 700 high school students from 19 towns. Students can earn college credit or industry-recognized certifications through many of the school's courses. According to Principal Margaret Callahan, at least 175 students participate in the manufacturing-related programs that Lynch toured.

"We were just thrilled to have the governor here to see all the things our students do with our great teachers," Callahan said.

Lynch met students as they worked on projects including constructing wheelchair parts from steel, fixing a car's headlights and building a voting machine.

"They know what they're doing and they're getting these marketable skills," said Callahan while visiting the welding room. "It's exciting for me to come into this shop and know they're going to be fine. They're not going to be unemployed; they're going to have rewarding, satisfying jobs that support their families, and that's what it's all about."

According to Callahan, she hopes to expand the welding program to include a certification program in which adults as well as teens can participate. Notable recent additions to these programs have included a new automotive technology building with eight lifts and new computers built from separately sold parts with help from students.

"There are so many jobs available, and they're really not training enough kids in the blue-collar jobs these days," said Greg Stewart, a teaching assistant who works primarily in the welding program.

"It's a fun, hands-on activity, and it's also helpful to me when the car breaks down," said Exeter High School senior Ben Swift on his interest in pursuing a career in the automotive industry as he took a break from torquing a car's tires.

According to Lynch, New Hampshire is promoting education for in-demand jobs through an increasing emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects for students of all ages.

Lynch cited a recent agreement of the state university system to double its number of graduates with STEM degrees by 2025.

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Source: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20121023-NEWS-210230360

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