ANSONIA — Emmett O’Brien’s Precision Machining Technology ninth grade students recently received a $22,000 donation from the Forum Plastics company in Waterbury. The tools were presented to each of the students in a surprise ceremony.
Forum Plastics President Mark Polinsky was on hand to present the students with the tools. He shared the importance of learning the necessary skills to be successful in today’s manufacturing field while contributing to build today’s workforce. The 22 students arrived in the shop to find the tools all laid out in front of their toolboxes. They had huge smiles on their face, and were very appreciative of this amazing opportunity for each of them.
Steve Orloski the head of EOB’s Precision Machining Technology Department, said that the students have a wonderful head-start coming out of the program with all of the necessary tools to make them successful in their trade.
“We are fortunate to have an amazing hi-tech training facility where we can have our students trained with the necessary skillsets to be highly proficient in today’s manufacturing field,” Orloski said. “The relationships with our industry partners are invaluable. We are always creating new pipelines to place our students in their companies. Forum Plastics continues to be a strong supporter of our program and we are extremely grateful for that.”
Orloski said that 95 percent of his students are immediately placed in successful manufacturing jobs as early as the tenth grade.
Dr. Ellen Solek, who heads up the Connecticut Technical and Education Career System, was also on hand for the celebration.
She spoke of the ongoing collaboration between business and education. She also spoke to the students about the importance of working hard and mastering specific skills in the manufacturing field while giving back to your community and remembering where you came from.
