Tag: Dr. Richard Hudanick

ECC Partners With Manufacturer to Provide Internships for Welding Students

February 14, 2023 | Campus News

East Central College and WEG Transformers USA embarked on a collaboration project that has benefited both the college’s welding students and the Washington-based manufacturer of power transformers.

WEG Transformers provided an internship for four ECC Welding students who learned the ropes while working for the industry. Through the internship, the students gained hands-on, real-word experience at the manufacturer. WEG is a multi-national company that produces power and distribution transformers at its Washington plant for North America and overseas.

The students — Holly Downey, Sadie Meyer, Zach Regot and Cole Vance — completed the internship in the Fall 2022 semester and earned 5 credits hours each.

WEG and ECC developed a four-week internship that assesses students from safety, attendance, welding, blueprint reading and communication, according to ECC Welding Program Coordinator Bobby Bland.

“The interns were partnered with select employees from WEG that would be a great fit to the needs of the students, while working with the employees, students got to see first-hand to what working in a manufacturing facility was really like,” Bland said. “As instructors we can talk about the experience all we want in class but for student to be in that production environment it is higher learning education at its finest.”

Once they completed the internship, students were given a writing assignment to reflect on their experience at WEG.

“The papers were above and beyond my expectations of what they learned while they participated in the internship,” said Dr. Richard Hudanick, dean of career and technical education. “Students wrote about their struggles, triumphs and excitement, coming back with more value that they can share with their fellow students in class, which really engaged the rest of the class.”

“These students are developing talent in an ever-expanding field of transformer manufacturing where welding is core,” he added. “This is a success story.”

WEG USA Human Resource Director Chris Vansickle said the ECC students worked closely alongside WEG employees and learned from the company’s culture.

“We value each individual contribution to our success, and we motivate people by means of integrity, ethics and constant support to personal development,” he said. “Working as a team, we gather the best knowledge, intelligence and skill to constantly improve our work and benefit our customers.

“Every day we work to make things better. All products, processes and developments are driven by the desire to increase efficiency,” Vansickle added.

Hudanick said Bland met with the four students, and WEG supervisors and employees after the conclusion of the internship to gather information to make the next collaboration even more successful.

“Internships and apprenticeships are the future of filling manufacturing employment opportunities within our community,” Hudanick said.

ECC and WEG Partnerships

The College’s Adult Education and Literacy program and WEG already had been working together before the welding internships.

More than 30 WEG employees are being taught English Language Acquisition (ELA) courses through the ECC AEL program.

The students joined WEG in 2021 through the International Institute of St. Louis (IISTL) — an immigrant and job placement service/information hub which connects refugees and immigrants to a variety of opportunities in the St. Louis region. The jobs range from entry-level to professional positions, within a variety of industries.

AEL Director Alice Whalen and Vansickle worked together to implement the ELA courses at WEG.

PLTW Teacher, ECC Adjunct Recognized Nationally

September 22, 2022 | Campus News

East Central College adjunct instructor and St. Clair High School engineering teacher Maurice Gritzman is being recognized nationally for the work he is doing with engineering students.

Gritzman was named an Outstanding Engineering Teacher by the National Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a not-for-profit organization that promotes transformative learning experiences for students. More than 12,400 schools offer PLTW to millions of students across the country.

The SCHS PLTW is a unique program due to the collaborative partnership between the high school and ECC. Four days a week, Gritzman leads his students through their engineering studies at both SCHS and in the labs in ECC’s Business and Industry Center (BIC).

He noted that the National PLTW award brings to light the work that SCHS and ECC are doing together, and how it greatly benefits his students.

“This award gives recognition to the St. Clair program, and it highlights what ECC is doing to benefit students. It also shows the kind of post-secondary opportunities students will find at ECC,” he said. “I am very happy for these students because a recognition like this showcases what they have been able to accomplish — without them, we wouldn’t be here.”

The students learn to model projects using Solidworks (computer-aided drawing and engineering application) in the BIC labs, and then they build their projects using the college’s Precision Machining equipment.

“PLTW helps us link to all of the resources these students have available, and it has helped us develop relationships that can be used to gain real-world experience,” Gritzman added.

In addition to utilizing equipment and technology that is unavailable at the high school, the SCHS students also earn ECC dual credit courses for college.

To learn more about PLTW-e and the collaboration between ECC and SCHS, visit www.eastcentral.edu/blog/video-ecc-and-st-clair-high-school-engineering-partnership-continues/.

ECC to Host Manufacturing Day Oct. 6 in the BIC

September 22, 2022 | Campus News

East Central College is inviting local manufacturers and community members to its Business and Industry Center (BIC) to showcase the college’s career-ready programs and state-of-the-art equipment.

Manufacturing Day is slated for Thursday, Oct. 6, from 4-6 p.m., and members of the community, and manufacturing employers and employees alike, are invited to take guided tours of the BIC, and learn more information about Precision Machining, HVAC/R, Industrial Engineering Technology and Welding programs.

Attendees also will have an opportunity to meet with career-ready program faculty members and take part in a question-and-answer session with some of the College’s female welding students.

In addition, Manufacturing Day will feature The Metallica Scholars Initiative, which is providing $100,000 in grants to be used for scholarships for career-ready students. There also will be a chance to take home Metallica/ECC swag and win prizes.

ECC’s Metallica Scholars initiative is a partnership with All Within My Hands (AWMH), which has been working with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to provide direct support for career and technical education programs across the country.

East Central is one of 10 community colleges in the U.S. to receive a $100,000 grant to fund scholarships for programs that provide skills and services to students who are looking to enter a traditional trade or other applied-learning program.

For more information about Manufacturing Day, the Metallica Scholars Initiative or any of our career-ready programs, people may contact Dr. Richard Hudanick at 636-584-6635 or richard.hudanick@eastcentral.edu.

To learn more about the Metallica Scholars Initiative, visit www.eastcentral.edu/metallica-scholars-initiative/, or contact Kathy Luther at kathy.luther@eastcentral.edu or 636-584-6573.

VIDEO: ECC and St. Clair High School Engineering Partnership Continues

August 30, 2022 | Campus News

A collaboration between East Central College and St. Clair High School continues to grow. This year marks the third year of the Project Lead The Way-Engineering (PLTW-E) program — a partnership between the College and SCHS.

The high school’s PLTW-E program, in conjunction with ECC’s advanced manufacturing center, has organically grown into what is now a collaborative lab-sharing project. SCHS students use the labs and equipment at ECC to further enhance their PLTW-E program.

Since 2019, Maurice Gritzman, PLTW-E instructor at SCHS, has jumped on a bus with his students four days a week to make the trip during the fall and spring semesters to the College’s Business and Industry Center (BIC). Gritzman, a former engineer, leads his students through engineering studies at SCHS and at ECC.

While at ECC his students learn to model projects using Solidworks (computer-aided drawing and engineering application) and then they build their projects using Precision Machining equipment. Students in this program also utilize industrial precision machines and other related software. In addition to utilizing equipment and technology that is unavailable at the high school, the SCHS students also earn ECC dual credit courses for college.

This year there are eight SCHS students involved in the PLTW-e. In 2020, all three SHCS grads in the program came to ECC the following year. Last year, there were 15 students, five of whom were seniors in the program — two came to ECC after graduating high school and three went onto Missouri S&T in Rolla.

Collaboration

The collaboration between SCHS and ECC began four years ago, according to Dr. Richard Hudanick, Dean of Career and Technical Education. Gritzman brought students to the BIC labs for ECC’s Annual Manufacturing Days Event in 2019.

The event showcases ECC’s faculty, labs and programs focused on HVAC, Industrials Engineering Technology, Precision Machinery, and Welding.

It was at Manufacturing Days that Gritzman and SCHS Advisor Holly Click met Nathan Esbeck, Industrial Engineering Technology (IET) program director; Curtis Elliott, Precision Machining program coordinator; and Hudanick.

At the time, Gritzman had his eyes on one of IET’s robotic trainers, according to Hudanick. “Maurice said, ‘I wish I had one of these.”

“I told him that ‘our labs are your labs’,” Hudanick added. “At this point the ball was in Maurice’s court and from that moment his relationship with ECC, and Esbeck and Elliott, has been nothing but a success.”

This collaborative project satisfies many needs of the community while allowing students to discover engineering and advanced manufacturing career paths.

ECC’s IET and Precision Machinery programs offer such an opportunity for this discovery.

“Neither of these programs are well known outside manufacturing itself and with good paying careers for those who travel their paths,” Hudanick added. “What a novel way to build a collaborative adventure with high school student’s career-future at the center.”

He explained that the high schools work toward developing pathways, like PLTW, for their students, while trying to engage them is career ideas.

“It’s a win-win when high school engineering and industrials arts programs are supported by their community colleges,” Hudanick added. “ECC has the lab resources to include state-of-the-art equipment and industry software, and we are preparing these high school students for their next step after graduation.

ECC to Host High School Manufacturing Day

August 18, 2022 | Campus News

East Central College is hosting a High School Manufacturing Day Thursday, Oct. 6, to showcase its career-ready programs.

The event will be at the College’s Business and Industry Center (BIC) from 8 a.m. to noon, and will feature information about Precision Machining and Technology, HVAC/R, Industrial Engineering Technology and Welding programs.

In addition, prospective students will learn about ECC’s Metallica Scholars initiative, a funding opportunity for students going into the career-ready programs at ECC.

The college is utilizing scholarship funding through the Metallica Scholars partnership for student in advanced manufacturing programs, with the goal to elevate students’ skill sets by meeting industry standards and raising the level of academic programs offered.

For more information about High School Manufacturing Day, or to find out how to participate, contact Dr. Richard Hudanick at 636-584-6635 or richard.hudanick@eastcentral.edu

NISOD Excellence Awards Presented to ECC Employees

June 23, 2022 | Campus News

Three East Central College employees recently were recognized for their dedication to students, the college and their coworkers with 2021 NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development) Excellence Awards.

The ECC award recipients are Erin Anglin, executive director of The Learning Center; Bobby Bland, welding instructor and program coordinator; and Bethany Herron, student services specialist.

NISOD is a professional development provider that offers programs and resources for community and technical colleges. Member colleges can recognize employees through the Excellence Awards, which are presented to faculty and staff who are doing extraordinary work on their campuses.

Award recipients receive a unique silver medallion engraved with The University of Texas and NISOD insignias and adorned with a burnt orange ribbon. NISOD is based out of the University of Texas in Austin.

Erin Anglin

Erin Anglin, executive director of The Learning Center, was nominated for the NISOD Excellence Award by Megen Strubberg, director of early college and admissions.

“Erin embodies ECC’s core values of Collaboration, Integrity, Empowerment, and Learning on a regular basis,” Strubberg wrote in the nomination. “Despite her calm exterior, Erin is enthusiastic, thoughtful, and frank when it comes to finding new and improved ways to recruit and retain students.”

Strubberg added that Anglin takes a student-centered approach, which is beneficial due to her “front-row seat” to the journey of many ECC students.

“The beginning of the pandemic, she pulled her staff together to offer tutoring and testing services in expanded ways,” Strubberg said, adding that Anglin is working with ECC’s Early College and Admissions team to enhance retention efforts, from the beginning of the student life cycle.

“Under Erin’s leadership, The Learning Center has completely transformed from a somewhat lower-key spot for academic tutoring to a dynamic, welcoming place for students to know they are encouraged and valued,” she said.

Bobby Bland

Welding Program Coordinator Bobby Bland was nominated by Dr. Richard Hudanick, dean of career and technical education for “extraordinary work” he exhibits daily.

“Over and above his duties as a faculty member and a coordinator for East Central’s Welding program, Bobby continuously is setting the bar higher and higher for standards in classroom instruction and industry partnership relations,” Hudanick commented.

“On any given day, Bobby can be found critiquing the quality of weld-joints performed by his students to talking with industry partners to coordinate interviews for future graduates.”

Hudanick added that Bland volunteers for efforts in his ECC campus community outside the welding lab. That includes working with the theater department with welds for a prop or supporting ECC’s baseball team by assisting with a welding project near the baseball field.

“Bobby is truly a humble man who is always willing to put others first,” Hudanick said. “His endless energy level drives a sense of team spirit with his co-workers — Bobby is a great example of an individual who dignifies the NISOD Excellence Award.”

Bethany Herron

Herron was nominated for the NISOD Excellence Award by Stephanie Hebert, enrollment services business analyst.

“Bethany has worked tirelessly to support the Student Development Division for eight years,” Hebert said. “She is always willing to step up and do whatever she is asked.”

That has been especially true, Hebert added, during the past two years as Herron’s department has adjusted to working with students and staff in the virtual environment. During that time, Herron has trained multiple new employees who have been hired as a Student Service Specialists.

“She does it all with a smile and a can-do attitude,” Hebert said. “Bethany makes it a point to learn student’s names and will often follow up with students to make sure they are completing all of the steps required for admission, registration, financial and graduation — Bethany is a joy to work with and I am thankful to know her and learn from her.”

Mizzou College of Engineering, ECC Sign Computer Information Systems Agreement

January 24, 2022 | Campus News

East Central College has signed an agreement with the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., to streamline the path for students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.

The articulation agreement guarantees that any student who earns an Associate in Applied Science degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS) at ECC — with an emphasis in database administration and security — has the opportunity to complete an information technology degree at MU College of Engineering.

The “2+2” agreement is designed for students to complete two years, or four semesters, of classes at ECC, and then two years of courses at the University of Missouri. It was signed by Dr. Jon Bauer, ECC president; Dr. Robyn Walter, ECC vice president of academic affairs; Dr. Latha Ramchand, UM provost; and Dr. Noah Manring, MU dean of college of engineering.

Dr. Walter explained that both institutions are committed to seamless transfers so students can complete their academic goals. The new partnership enhances access for students across the ECC district, and throughout the state.

She further explained that agreements like this align with ECC’s strategic plan, SOAR to 2024.

“One of our strategies in our five-year strategic plan is to grow partnerships with our four-year university partners, and provide opportunities for the students and the community,” Walter said.

“This articulation agreement with MU is really impactful for students who choose to pursue a career in computer science and choose an online option to obtain their degree.”

Walter noted that the market demand for qualified CIS professional is high.

“This degree is suited for the traditional-aged student, as well as the returning adult student, with the benefit of the online platform at the associate degree level and at the bachelor’s degree level,” she added. “I am thrilled to have this innovative and comprehensive articulation agreement with MU. Our CIS faculty have built a strong program with an outstanding reputation that partners well with MU’s program.”

Background at ECC

According to Dr. Richard Hudanick, dean of career and technical education at ECC, about five years ago CIS faculty members Anna Schwein and Jason Durbin began revamping the program’s curriculum.

“Anna and Jason committed more than three years updating curriculum, rebuilding curriculum layout for a total online learning environment, and new course,” Hudanick said. “They also taught a group of students who were finishing their degree.

“There are a lot of moving parts to a program rebuild, including maintaining student success,” he added.

In 2020, ECC’s CIS online program caught the interest of valued education partner, the University of Missouri, Hudanick noted.

Over the next year, Schwein, Durbin and Hudanick worked with Mizzou’s liaison and faculty to forge the “2 plus 2” articulation agreement.

St. Clair High School, ECC Manufacturing Partnership Grows

October 12, 2021 | Campus News

A partnership between East Central College and St. Clair High School has grown this year, building on its success from last year.

The SCHS Project Lead The Way (PLTW) has 12 students enrolled this year, which is up eight from the 2020-21 academic year.

PLTW is a national nonprofit that offers hands-on computer science, engineering and biomedical science instruction. Through the partnership between SCHS and ECC, students utilize industrial precision machines and software at ECC’s Business and Industry Center (BIC).

The partnership with the college officially began last year when Maurice Gritzman, PLTW engineering teacher at SCHS, brought students to the BIC labs.

In addition to utilizing equipment and technology that is unavailable at the high school, the SCHS students also earned dual credit for the courses taken through PLTW, according to Megen Strubberg, director of early college and admissions.

The seed of the relationship between ECC and SCHS was planted three years ago when Gritzman first met Dr. Richard Hudanick, dean of the Career and Technical Education Department, at a Manufacturing Days event at the college.

“The collaboration has been a success since the start – for St. Clair and their students,” Hudanick said. “Maurice seemed very knowledgeable, and he really talked up the labs to his students.

It was during the conversation at the Manufacturing Days that Hudanick told Gritzman, “Our labs are your labs.”

Program’s Success

Three of the four students who enrolled in the program last year are now ECC students, Hudanick added.

“Last year, the PLTW class began as 12 students but COVID changed plans for many,” Gritzman commented. “In the end three PLTW are now ECC students — two enrolled in the STEM program and the third enrolled in the NIMS-based precision machining program”

ECC’s facilities were made available to the students to learn industry recognizable design software, mill their designs using commercial Computer Numerical Control (CNC) capital equipment and gain programming experience using Mitsubishi robots for robotic applications, such as pick and place manufacturing operations, Gritzman explained.

“Overall, the past year was a success,” Hudanick said. “Maurice’s main efforts were focused on sustaining the ECC relationship and growth of technology education courses for high school students.

“He wants this to be the template for all St Clair High School Engineering programs sharing ECC facilities for student learning using industry tools for design and manufacturing. He has nothing but the highest regards for ECC and St. Clair.”

According to Gritzman, he would like to establish a sustainable partnership with ECC to grow a “Technology Education” track for high school students.

Technology Education would offer specialty PLTW engineering courses, such as Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), that leverage the access to industrial precision machines and software available at ECC.

Gritzman added that the future could include additional courses for SCHS students at ECC, including Industrial Engineering Technology and Precision Machining.

“Expansion into diverse technical education channels with ECC provides broader options for technology careers for St Clair’s engineering and technology students,” Gritzman stated.

Last year, SCHS students were engaged in the precision machining facility lab-sharing project and earned six dual credit hours in ECC’s Introduction to Manufacturing and Solidworks courses.

Future dual credit opportunities in other technical courses also are being explored.

Soft Swing Technologies

Gritzman noted that this year, the SCHS students will be working with a local company, Soft Swing Technologies, to “validate a new design and recommend market entry and manufacturing strategies.”

“All of the students will receive industry recognized soft-skills training to meet industry hiring goals and expectations,” he said.

At this point there is no other known collaborative PLTW program partnership between a community college and a high school. This is both a strength to the stakeholder partnership and an opportunity to build credit hours, Gritzman said.

“There really is not any partnership like this that we are aware of– it’s just simply exciting,” added Hudanick.

Precision Machining Coordinator Recipient of Award

December 8, 2020 | Campus News

Curtis Elliott, Precision Machining program coordinator at East Central College, recently received the “Governor’s Award” from the Center for Workforce Development (CWD) for his work at a local manufacturer.

The award was presented to Elliott for “Outstanding Performance” after he completed a successful project with Klauber Machine and Gear (KMG), Pacific, to streamline efficiency and production.

Dr. Richard Hudanick, Dean of Career and Technical Education, said the efforts of Elliott and Dr. Edward Shelton, director for CWD at ECC, helped reduce waste and saved the manufacturer time and money.

“It is certainly an honor to work with Curtis and all the faculty in our advanced manufacturing center,” he said. “I knew great efforts were coming to fruition at Klauber I just didn’t realize how big the impact would be.”

According to Elliott, the applied American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is the standard needed at Klauber.

“This immediately improved efficiency and production.,” he said. “Due to the nature of the manufacturing processes Mastercam training was a big part of the plan as well.”

“Overall, I am really happy with the project outcome,” Elliott added. “The reduction in waste and improved production process reduced the lead-time from 12 weeks to two — the company has had its best production report due to this project in its history.”

Elliott’s award was presented following a visit to Klauber by Gov. Mike Parson in October.

CWD Faculty/Staff

Hudanick added that Elliott and other manufacturing faculty members are successful, in part, because of their experience in the manufacturing field.

“They all started in the industry before giving back to the community through ECC,” he said. “They are a great group of very knowledgeable experts in their field and it is exciting to watch them craft their trade.”

KMG utilized Missouri One Start program customized training assistance which has helped to develop its workforce.

ECC has taken a unique approach to this training partnership by developing a mentor/instruction method. Under this method, Elliott worked with Klauber employees on the production line twice a week and gave an assessment of the operator’s skills.

Learn more about the Precision Machining program at www.eastcentral.edu/business/precision-machining-technology/, or visit https://www.eastcentral.edu/cwd/ to learn about industry training offered by ECC.