Funding Awarded: $202,500

INDUSTRY PARTNERS:

BTD Manufacturing, Lake Region Electrical Cooperative, Otter Tail Power Company

Key Partners:

MN State Community & Technical College,  Adult Basic Education – Moorhead, Perham/Dent ISD# 549,  Lake Park/Auburn ISD# 2889, Hawley ISD# 150, Detroit Lakes ISD# 22, Moorhead ISD# 152 , Dilworth/Glyndon/Felton ISD# 2164, Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (Rural MN CEP)

Project Summary:

Six independent school districts in northwestern Minnesota will benefit from Green technology curriculum developed by Minnesota State Community and Technical College faculty, assisted by private sector partners. These units will also improve the college’s existing engine-related, construction/design, and electrical programs at its campuses in Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead, Wadena. Green technology specialists from BTD Manufacturing, Lake Region Electrical Coop, and Otter Tail Power are assisting in course development. 

Project Outcomes:

• 55 high school students enrolled in Green Technology classes

• 14 high students received Technological Studies I Certificate

• 7 adults enrolled in Green Technology classes

• 7 educators trained in Green Technology, who are expected to train an additional 200 students            annually

• 12 Green Technology modules developed

Project Description:

The skills involved in the Green Technology program were a direct result of what local industry leaders and energy producers in the region said they needed in their workers. This project involved private industry, higher education faculty, and K-12 schools that participated in designing the three main components of the program:

• College curriculum upgraded to include most up-to-date renewable energy topics including solar (both thermal and photovoltaic) alternative fuels for diesel engines, super-hybrid electric motors for cars, and  smart buildings.

• High school students went to the technical college campus to complete a 14-credit college-level course to prepare them for renewable energy careers.

• Dislocated worker version of the renewable energy course offered to upgrade their technical skills to work in the renewable energy industry.

"Personally, the most rewarding part of this program was working with the high school students," said Dan Eischens, Customized Training Services Director of Manufacturing and Technical Areas at MSCTC. "We targeted the middle 60% of the students, who are overlooked by most programs. And, after every class, their faces would light up and they would say ‘I know now that I can do it and that there's a good job out there waiting for me to use these skills."

Three students who completed the program are using their experiences to guide their future careers.

• Bruce Reyes used what he learned to pass the ASVAB test to join the Marines. "The electricity part  of  the program helped me a lot," he said.

• Guillermo Vargas is going into Veterinary Science and said that this experience helped him understand   more about what will be expected of him in college.

• Vincent Garcia already has a lead on a potential welding job for after he graduates. "I knew some of the basics of welding, but I didn't know anything about autoCAD before I started. It's not that hard to  learn."

"This took our students over to the campus where they got hands-on experience with welding; belts, pulleys, and drives; and computer-aided design," said Career Exploration teacher Brad Hawkins from Red River Alternative Learning Center. "It shows them that they can do the work and they can see themselves going to the Tech college or a four-year program."