Westfield Students Boost U.S. Bobsled Team with Manufacturing Skills
WESTFIELD — Last year, students from Westfield Technical Academy’s manufacturing technology program collaborated with Advance Manufacturing and the Amati family to produce key components for the American Bobsled Team. Under the guidance of lead instructor Ron Nadeau, the students utilized materials donated by Advance Manufacturing to create parts essential for high-performance sleds.
The project was time-sensitive and culminated in a successful outcome: team member Kaysha Love secured a world championship in monobob, thanks to the parts produced by the Westfield students. Recently, at Advance Manufacturing, an award was presented to the team, recognizing the contributions of the students involved. Nadeau noted that the students, now in co-ops, are all seniors with two years of experience in computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).
Seniors Micah Reimann and Owen Carpenter reflected on the project, describing it as high-pressure and demanding precision. “Everything had to be perfect,” Carpenter said, while Reimann added that working with stainless steel 17-4PH was an exciting opportunity. Currently, Reimann is on a co-op at Bern Optics, where he’s secured a full-time position post-graduation as a CNC operator and programmer.
Carpenter continues his co-op at Advance Manufacturing and plans to pursue mechanical engineering at Springfield Technical Community College after graduation. He emphasized the real-world experience gained through the program, preparing him for future endeavors.
Additionally, WTA juniors recently tackled a real-world engineering challenge, successfully connecting a generator to a recycled vegetable oil-powered engine to create a solar battery charging system.
Despite a Skills Capital grant of $250,000 for equipment upgrades, Nadeau expressed concerns over budget cuts affecting the teaching staff, which could impede future curriculum advancements. “All of these projects come at the cost of having educators to teach the skills,” he stated, emphasizing their commitment to student development.
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