Student Tristan Piekarski talks about skills he's learning at Emmett O’Brien Technical High School in Ansonia.
ANSONIA – Students at Emmett O’Brien Technical High school on Friday (March 18) were armed with the tools of the trade they’ll need to forge future careers in the manufacturing field.
The 22 freshmen in the school’s precision machining technology department were gifted with a $14,000 donation of everything from wrenches and telescoping gauges to micrometers and mallets, courtesy of Forum Plastics of Waterbury.
“This means I could have a very successful future and career and not have to worry about not having the money to buy these tools,” said Tristan Piekarski, 15, of Shelton. “I like to work with my hands and my grandfather was a machinist.”
Tristan and his fellow freshmen had no clue what was awaiting them at their work stations when they walked into the machine shop.
The surprised looks on their faces was like watching kids on Christmas morning for department head Steve Orloski.
“I reached out to Forum Plastics and said we have students who could use some tools, and instead of buying just a few tools, they bought them all,” Orloski said. “It’s been an incredible experience working with them. The students have all the necessary tools they need to be successful in this field.”
Orloski said the school’s precision machining tech department is the largest in the state. There’s a waiting list to get in. Employers are constantly calling Orloski, looking to recruit students, with a large part of the manufacturing workforce retiring, creating job opportunities that are going unfilled.
Orloski said the relationships being built between students and manufacturers affords students the opportunity to gain critical job training skills, while still in school, and gives them a leg up upon graduation to enter the workforce as skilled workers.
He said 100 percent of his seniors are currently working in the industry, and 95 percent of the juniors are working in jobs, as well.
Arianna Parkman
The demand for skilled manufacturers, especially in Connecticut, continues to be on the rise, according to Orloski.
“It all starts right here in our school’s manufacturing facility, and within a couple of years all these kids will be able to make the tools in these kits,” Orloski said.
Arianna Parkman, 14, of Ansonia, was just talking to her mom Friday morning about having to purchase tools this year, and was grateful for the donation.
“I was so surprised, this is pretty cool and it will be really helpful,” Arianna said.
EOB Principal Laurie Lebouthillier said the student work program gives students the real-life experience they need to succeed.
“This is awesome, and it’s like Christmas and their birthdays all at once today,” she said.
Forum Plastics President Mark Polinsky was happy to lend a hand.
“If you’re in the business of making things, we need people like you who come out of technical schools with technical skills to help us make things, know how to use tools, run machines, read blueprints and work with their hands,” Polinsky said. “There’s a huge shortage of that in Connecticut and in the world. We see in our own company where we have 60 and 70 year old toolmakers that are retiring and there’s a big gap. We’re hoping that when you guys graduate from this program, you’ll be able to enter the workforce and help us continue to make parts. We need you to be successful and we don’t want you to have to worry about the cost of the tools.”
Interim Superintendent of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System Dr.Ellen Solek was on hand for the tool donation, as well, and said students will be well served by it.
“In the industry you’re going into, there are so many networking possibilities for you,” she told students. “You are in a great place and you have the keys right in front of you that will endure for a long, long time.”
