Students in Bill Rakonczay’s Precision Machine Technology Program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center are getting some real hands-on experience thanks to the mentoring of several local machining companies.  Because of the high demand for skilled workers, the companies line up well in advance to offer the students a chance for a paid internship where they can see what their employees’ workdays look like and see if they would be a good fit for future employment.

“Capstoning is a great process for both my students and employers,” says Mr. Rakonczay.  “It allows my students to have a broader understanding of what it is like to work for a manufacturing company.  If they don’t like the experience they can reassess their career goals before graduation and if they do like it, it allows the company to employ them for several months to see if they are what they are looking for and where they will fit in to their operation.”

Students begin the capstoning process either at the end of their junior year or the beginning of their senior year.  Josh Miller, a student from Lockport, says he is enjoying working at Diversified Manufacturing Inc. in Lockport.  “I like it a lot,” he says.  “It’s a lot different from working on the machines we have here in class where we have to share.  I have my own machine there and it’s pretty cool.”  Connor Heiser, from Royalton Hartland, says his time at Niagara Precision Inc. has been a great experience in preparing him for the future.  “It has definitely helped me to decide to go to college for Mechanical Engineering.”  Classmate Lance Gardner has been working at Plastic Weld Systems, Inc. in Newfane.  “I have learned a lot of the little things you need to know in their trade.  In class we learn the basics, but you definitely pick up a lot more once you start working.”  He says he is glad he enrolled in the Precision Machine Technology Program at Orleans/Niagara BOCES.  “I like this program a lot and I am really happy I chose it.  I have already been offered an opportunity to work fulltime at Plastic Weld after I graduate and I am very excited about that.”

“The need for trained professionals in the machining field is incredible,” says Mr. Rakonczay.  “I have almost 100% placement rate with my students if they want to go right into the working world.  Capstoning is a great experience because it is learning in action.  Part of my teaching process is to provide students with skills in the classroom and an opportunity to get their foot in the door of a local company so that they can learn about the organization and increase their skills in managing their time, conflict management and being part of a team.”

(LtoR) Front Row: Ryan Winter (Lockport), Josh Klotzbach (Medina), Josh Miller (Lockport), Al Winter (Royalton Hartland).  Back Row: Kyle Cobb (Lockport), Lance Gardner (Lyndonville), Mike Messler (Medina), Connor Heiser (Royalton Hartland) and Kalvin Parker (Medina).