STUDENTS PARTNER WITH USC STUDENTS ON ENGINEERING CONCEPTS ethel Park
THREE INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE FINALISTS FOR PATRIOTISM ESSAY CONTEST
Bethel Park High School Technology Education Teacher Brad Kszastowski listens to students talk about their projects for EAFab .
( Left to right ): Korey Patterson , John Peters , Mike Pitoniak and Nic Minshall work on a design to create a safe way to rotate heavy machinery .
Tom Kennedy ( left ) and Jessica Viehman ( right ) work on creating a model of the EAFab Manufacturing Floor .
STUDENTS PARTNER WITH USC STUDENTS ON ENGINEERING CONCEPTS ethel Park
BETHEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT
The 16 students in Brad Kszastowski ’ s Computer Integrated Manufacturing class are partnering with students from Upper St . Clair High School to gain some hands-on , real-world experience , working with the EAFab Corp in Oakdale .
EAFab works with the steel industry in the United States and Mexico to provide equipment and repairs to existing equipment . EAFab has given the students four assignments : to create an app that will regulate / monitor water through a radiator ; creating a virtual reality marketing video that explains the company ’ s manufacturing process ; designing a rigging protocol for the safe maneuvering / servicing of heavy equipment ; and looking at the factory floor to find inefficiencies and re-design it to make it more efficient .
For the past three years , Upper St . Clair students have been working with EAFab owners Pedro and Claudia Quiroga to help them with issues they are facing . Bethel Park was invited to join this partnership this school year when Upper St . Clair High School Principal Dr . Louis Angelo contacted Bethel Park High School Principal Dr . Zeb Jansante about becoming a part of this exciting learning opportunity .
“ We were very interested in participating in this project ,” explains Dr . Jansante . It is our goal to provide our students with as many opportunities to work with companies , giving them the experience to problem solve in a meaningful way .”
“ The students from both schools are great kids and it makes it fun to see them collaborating and sharing ideas ,” said Mr . Kszastowski . “ We also appreciate the Quirogas ’ active involvement
THREE INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE FINALISTS FOR PATRIOTISM ESSAY CONTEST
Three Independence Middle School eighth grade students — Emily Carter , Olivia Tabler and Alyssa Vetere — were three of the 15 Finalists in the “ Patriot ’ s Pen ” essay contest , sponsored by the Library Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6664 .
They were honored with the other Finalists at an award ceremony held at the
48 Bethel Park
Library Volunteer Fire Company , where they received a certificate and $ 50 for being a Finalist .
The theme of this year ’ s essay contest was “ The America I Believe In .” Over 200 entries were submitted for this year ’ s contest from area students in grades 6 through 8 . with this project . When they pay a visit to the students , they really engage them with good questions to get them thinking more deeply about their assignments .
“ Their input is invaluable and their commitment to providing these real-life learning opportunities for our students is something that we can ’ t replicate in the classroom .”
Tom Kennedy , Justin Sackett , Jessica Viehman and Eric Wenger are looking at improving factory floor efficiency and they are building a 3-D model of the shop floor with moveable parts , to see where improvements can be made .
Tom Kennedy is excited about participating in this project . “ I ’ m interested in pursuing a career in engineering and I like abstract thinking .”
Nic Minshall , Korey Patterson , John Peters and Mike Pitoniak have been charged with designing a rigging protocol that will provide a safe way to rotate machinery weighing up to 3,000 pounds , to enable servicing on those machines . Currently , they are constructing a scaled model out of wood .
The two groups of students have met twice this school year already , and they will meet again at the end of February , where they will present their ideas to the Quirogas .
John Peters likes that not only is he working with a real company on real problems , but that he has the opportunity to make a difference . “ I know that EAFab has incorporated the students ’ ideas over the years , and it would be amazing if one of our ideas were also used . I look forward to making our final presentation in February .”
Independence Middle School eighth graders ( left to right ): Emily Carter , Olivia Tabler and Alyssa Vetere were among the 15 Finalists in the “ Patriot ’ s Pen ” essay contest .