DuBOIS, Pa. — Four local high school graduates recently completed a comprehensive computer numerical control (CNC) training program at Penn State DuBois, preparing them for in-demand careers in manufacturing.

The 71-hour course, designed for those not pursuing traditional college paths, provided hands-on experience with state-of-the-art machinery and foundational knowledge in industrial math, geometry, metrology, blueprint reading and CNC lathe setup. The program, developed in collaboration with local metal manufacturers and Workforce Solutions of North Central PA, aims to equip students with the skills needed for entry-level positions in fabricating facilities and powder metal manufacturing.

Hunter Tharp, Luke Eckert, Skylar Bowers and Tyler Baughman were the recent participants who completed the course. Classes were held in the evenings from June 3 through Aug. 1 at the Penn State DuBois campus, allowing students to gain practical experience while exploring career opportunities in the manufacturing sector by getting hands-on experience on modern equipment available in the innovation lab on campus.

The students also took part in several trips to local manufacturing and production facilities in the area to learn about what each organization specializes in and how the skills they were learning in the training program could be used in the professional world. Additionally, career counseling and resume development were integral parts of the program.

"Our goal was to offer an alternative pathway for students who may not be interested in traditional college degrees," said John Brennan, director of continuing and community education at Penn State DuBois. "This training provided them with the skills and knowledge to start a career immediately, and the demand for CNC-trained professionals continues to grow. One student is already working at a metal manufacturing facility in his hometown.”

At the end of the course, students received a certificate of completion detailing the hours that they completed in the program, making it easy to show a possible employer that they took part in this program and gain valuable knowledge that they can use in a CNC-related position.

“One of the surprises from this program was that two of the students decided that they liked the engineering aspects of this training enough to investigate a college pathway in our engineering programs here at Penn State DuBois,” Brennan said. “One student completed his enrollment for the fall 2024 semester and the other intends to be on campus for spring 2025.”

This was the first year that this training program was offered at Penn State DuBois. Another opportunity will be coming for high school seniors who are interested, with the next edition of the program planning to be offered in the summer of 2025.

For more information about this program, contact continuing and community education at Penn State DuBois.