SWIC team wins national Department of Defense competition
Skills, drive and time management are the factors that helped push the Southwestern Illinois College technical education students to victory at the recent Department of Defense Project MFG National Competition.
The three-person team took first place in the Integrated Manufacturing category at the national skill competition held in at Wichita State University, May 10-13.
SWIC received $100,000 in prize money that will be divided between scholarships for the students and enhancements for the program.
“We’ve competed before and done well. We got second place last year. I think improved time management was the key to success this year,” said SWIC Technical Education Coordinator Mark Bosworth.
The team included Connor Barnard of Edwardsville, Brendan Caswell of Millstadt and Jacob Ing of Godfrey, plus coaches Bosworth, Precision Machining Technology Instructors Jerry Bonifield and Dave Berry.
“I love pushing myself,” Barnard said, a SWIC PMT program graduate. This was his second year competing in Project MFG.
The team designed and created a complex part using advanced multi-axis CNC technology, as well as welding.
Ing, the welder of the team, said: “I love the competition.” Caswell agreed: “I like the challenge.”
SWIC competed against 28 other teams from around the country. The goal of the event is to promote advanced manufacturing and highlight the critical need for these careers.
SWIC offers an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Precision Machining Technology as well as certificates in Precision Machining Technology, CNC Machining, Mastercam, Solid Works, and Advanced CNC Programming; and an AAS in Welding, plus Welding Technology, Welding Technology Advanced, Welding Technology Specialized, and Advanced Welding Manufacturing certificates.
For more information about the SWIC Precision Machining Technology program, visit swic.edu/pmt.