8th Grade Manufacturing Expo Introduced Students to Manufacturing and Trade Careers

May 1, 2018

Lauren Reeder
Kershaw County Economic Development

Kershaw County, SC – Over 200 Kershaw County Middle School Students were introduced to manufacturing and trade careers during the county’s first 8th Grade Manufacturing Expo on Friday, April 27, 2018. The inaugural event was hosted by The South Carolina Department of Commerce, The Kershaw County School District, and The Kershaw County Economic Development Office.

Located at the newly expanded Central Carolina Technical College – Kershaw County Campus, students experienced hands-on demonstrations and interactive displays by local manufacturing and trade companies. “Our goal is to introduce students to manufacturing and trade opportunities early in their education and help them understand how attractive these career paths are,” stated Kershaw County Economic Development Director Peggy McLean. “In five years some of these eighth graders will be entering the workforce and we want to show them the benefits of taking advantage of programs at both ATEC and Central Carolina Technical College.”

Participating companies included INVISTA, Hengst of North America, Oak Mitsui, Canfor Southern Pine, Suominen Nonwovens, Shawmut Corporation, Flowers Heating and Cooling, MB Kahn Construction, SERVPRO, Black River Electric Cooperative, Duke Energy, and Fairfield Electric Cooperative. With interactive displays from each company booth, students made parts manufactured by local industries, participated in safety gear competitions, and worked as a team to assemble a product within a production line.

Central Carolina Technical College (CCTC) and The Applied Technology Education Campus (ATEC) also exhibited at the event to showcase their manufacturing and trade courses and programs. ATEC and CCTC also spoke with students one-on-one about the skills needed within manufacturing and trade companies and how they can prepare to enter the workforce.

“This Expo is an excellent way to introduce eighth grade students to manufacturing and trade careers here in Kershaw County and some of the skills necessary to pursue those careers,” said Kershaw County School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Morgan. “I am pleased to see this effort come together and we look forward to seeing it expand in future years to reach more students.”

Major sponsors include Duke Energy, Black River Electric Cooperative, and Fairfield Electric Cooperative. The event also brought together volunteers from across the county to include The Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce, KM Video Productions, Kershaw County Planning and Zoning, Kershaw County Parks and Recreation, Kershaw County Administration, and Central Carolina Technical College.

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