High school students visit PTC for Gold Collar Career Day

PTC welcomed 175 10th and 11th graders from Cambridge-Isanti, East Central, Grantsburg, Pine and Rush City High Schools for the Sixth Annual Gold Collar Career Day event. High school students spent the day on campus participating in hands-on workshops and presentations such as "Robotics Technology," "Virtual Reality Technology," "CNC Manufacturing Technology" and "Engine Technology" -- a workshop presented by Polaris Industries. Plus, event attendees were treated to off-campus tours at manufacturing and hi-tech industry sites including Atscott Manufacturing Company, Inc. in Pine City, Andersen Corporation's manufacturing facility in North Branch and MinPack, a manufacturing facility in Pine City specializing in packaging and print services. The event also featured an inspiring and motivational keynote session with Dr. Jane Snell Copes, inorganic chemist and President/Owner of Science Outside the Box.

"Whatever it is that 15- and 16-year-olds are passionate about — cars, computers, robots, music and even art, they will be able to find a great career doing it in today's gold collar industries," says Dr. Marlene Mixa, Pine Technical College Community Based Jobs and Training Grant Administrator and Outreach Coordinator. "Gold collar jobs — jobs within high-wage, high-skill, high-demand occupations will be, at least for the next 15 years, the most sought-after of all high-paying positions," Mixa adds.

The term gold collar worker refers to highly skilled workers that span generations, regions and occupations and whose minds are not only molded by college education, but also molded through accreditation, certification, vocational and proprietary training. A gold collar worker may work in settings engaged in the mechanical, physical or chemical transformation of materials, substances or components into new products. They may be a help desk agent with an extensive high-tech background or the LEED accredited professional on a builder’s staff. Gold collar workers are machinists, electrical technicians, equipment makers, automotive technicians, network administrators and more.

"Our Gold Collar Career Day event showcases what kinds of careers these young high school students may work toward in the way of advanced manufacturing," Mixa says. "For example, they may not know they can earn nearly $75,000 a year as a CAD/CAM Designer," Mixa adds.


Photo above: PTC Instructor Dave Defenbaugh explains computer-aided drafting (CAD) and CAM.




Photos above: 11th grade students study engine parts presented by Polaris Industries.