SEL’s Intentional K-12 Outreach Paying Off

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

There are negative stereotypes and a general lack of awareness about manufacturing and viable career paths among today’s emerging workforce. To help change that perception and introduce young minds to modern manufacturing, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) hosts thousands of K-12 students to tour and experience its manufacturing facilities. The outreach goes beyond the students—this effort also raises awareness with educators. In this interview, John Cassleman, program manager for K-12 outreach, says this effort is working and providing hope for the future.

Barry Matties: John, how many students have taken part in SEL’s K-12 outreach program and how does it work?

John Cassleman: We’ve had 2,300 students participate over the past year (and even more when you include educators), and it works through four core tracks. The first track involves a tour of our manufacturing operations, where students see our processes and machines, and meet the people working here, which I think is the most important part because you see all the different careers that manufacturing can offer.

The second track puts SEL engineers, technicians, and others into the classrooms, where they talk about their careers. We usually couple that with an activity, so the kids get a taste of what that career looks and feels like.

The next track is events, like our Getting Ready for Engineering and Technology (GREAT) Day, where we host students from around the region to learn from our professionals, see our manufacturing processes, and understand how engineering and manufacturing are connected. At this event, we host about 100 students from more than a dozen schools around the region.

The day looks like this: Students arrive at SEL by 8:30 a.m., where they're warmly greeted at an opening session. From there, they attend breakout sessions that involve problem-solving activities. For example, it could be with our user experience group, where they learn about design and how to incorporate customer feedback. After the group activities, we take them to the manufacturing floor where we have set up displays that feature certain elements of the manufacturing process: cables, chassis of our relays, or some robotics. We also incorporate some design challenges, so the students take what they've learned and create some idea or a product. We conclude the event with lunch, where attendees are joined by SEL engineers and manufacturing experts. Students get to chat, ask questions, and show the engineers the work they've done throughout the day. This gives the engineers an opportunity to provide feedback as well. Everyone here is an employee-owner, and they volunteer their time to help. It's a full day, a lot of fun, and we all love it.

To continue reading this interview, which appeared in the November 2023 issue of SMT007 Magazine, click here.