Honeywell Summer Externship Helps Grandview High School Students Explore Manufacturing Careers

Honeywell hosts Grandview High School teachers to raise awareness about manufacturing and availability of rewarding careers in the industry

GRANDVIEW, MO. – Five Grandview high school teachers spent two weeks as students this summer learning the fundamentals of manufacturing from local experts at Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies (FM&T) at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC). Now, they’re back at the head of the class teaching their students how to pursue the wide-ranging manufacturing careers available right in their own community.

Watch our video showing the teacher’s during their visit to the Kansas City National Security Campus.

The types of manufacturing available at the KCNSC include electronic assembly, machining, inspection/quality assurance, logistics and other advanced manufacturing methods. The team of Grandview High School teachers worked in a mock factory and participated in other hands-on experiences throughout the two-week immersion program.

“Our overall goal is to ensure that all of our students graduate with a path after high school. However, many of our teachers only know the path that they experienced, which is college. This externship provides our teachers with the knowledge they need to help guide their students toward a path that best suits their interests and skills,” said Dr. Kenny Rodrequez, Grandview School District Superintendent.

October 1 is National Manufacturing Day, the annual day organized by the National Association of Manufacturers to show the reality of modern manufacturing careers to students, teachers and the general public. This day is especially important to Honeywell and other U.S. manufacturers because as more Baby Boomers and Gen-X workers approach retirement age, there are not enough young workers waiting in the job market to replace them. Known as the skills gap, the manufacturing sector is facing up to 2.5 million unfilled positions in the next seven years, according to a 2018 Deloitte study.

“We are committed to strengthening our partnership with Grandview School District to ensure students in our own backyard can discover and pursue their real-world potential,” said Eric Wollerman, president of Honeywell FM&T. “I’m proud of this partnership and how we have been able to impact the curriculums and quality of education for Grandview and other schools.”

Honeywell is one of several large companies participating in the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, a nonprofit organization of the largest, private employers in the Kansas City area with a focus on a vision of real-world learning helping prepare today’s students to become the talent of tomorrow.

“When we can empower teachers with the knowledge about what’s going on in manufacturing today and work to make science and technology fun, then they can apply that knowledge to all of the students they encounter affecting generations to come with real world learning,” said Wollerman, who grew up in a home where both parents were teachers and works to institute programs that advance local education.

That’s why programs like Advance Manufacturing Pathways, which was recently developed by the Grandview School District with input from Honeywell, will offer students a multi-year, hands-on education program in skilled trades.

“My expertise has been in education and teaching high school, but I didn’t have a lot of information about how to tell the students to get a job after school,” said Don Sutcliff, one of the externship participants and a Grandview High School Algebra Teacher.

“Now, I have the information to share about real-world career opportunities available to our students in manufacturing. We can teach real life applications for these advanced manufacturing occupations right here in our own classrooms. It’s exciting to know that this program will truly provide opportunities to help take them to the next level in their careers.”

In the two-year Advance Manufacturing Pathways program, the courses include Introduction to Engineering Design, Metals Technology, Machine Tool Technology and Computer Integrated Manufacturing as well as opportunities for internships and college credit.