Mr. Don Morgan’s Engineering class at Brooks County High School were visited by Mr. David D’Amico.  D’Amico, an Engineer who is also a part of the Wiregrass Georgia Technical College’s Engineering Workforce Alliance Group who is currently working to increase awareness about careers in engineering that can be filled through the colleges programs.  Wiregrass currently offers an associate degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering and Wireless Engineering.

In April D’Amico talked to Morgan’s class about careers in engineering and secondary education options.  During the nearly two hour visit, D’Amico informed the students about a serious issue in the industry.  The students stated they would like to work together with D’Amico and his team to find a solution for a particular project that Southern Company was currently working to address.  D’Amico proceeded to present to the students with in depth details of the project which involved safely moving a 300 lb cable used in the field that would reduce the risk of injury to the workers.  He brought the class samples of the cable and then arranged a field trip for the class to one of Southern Companies substations to see the actual material as they work with it. From there the students under the direction of Mr. Morgan began working on a possible solution. 

D’Amico brought several of the project committee members from Southern Company to Brooks County High School on May 6^th to hear the presentation from the class.  They were very impressed and that led to them now coming back to film the students.

Wiregrass is working with local industries to formalize a plan to do more of this type of projects. The college will be rolling out a plan for industries to present real life scenarios to area high school programs in technical/industrial fields and provide them support in the form of mentors, supplies, etc.; to work on solutions for the projects. The college is still in the development stages of this project and has received a lot of interest. The goal is that this project will build a stronger connection with local industries and the school systems as well as Wiregrass in an effort to increase the available skilled workforce needed for industries to be successful and provide higher wage jobs to graduates. Pictured: BCHS Student presents his project to the David D’Amico and his team of Engineers.