Gadsden State’s STEM Camp Teaches Automotive Manufacturing To Students

GADSDEN, Alabama — About 25 juniors and seniors from area high schools will be participating this month in a summer camp teaching automotive manufacturing skills.

STEM Camp, short for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, will take place June 17 through 20 at the East Broad Campus of Gadsden State Community College. The program is part of the Consortium for Alabama Regional Center for Automotive Manufacturing, or CARCAM.

Beverly Hilderbrand, CARCAM director, said similar camps are taking place at other community colleges in Alabama. The goal is to equip students with skills needed in automated manufacturing jobs.

During the camp, students will get instruction in elements of electronics, industrial automation, civil engineering, mechanical design and welding. Some will also build and test robots. Camp members will also tour the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn.

“It’s a very hands-on program that gets the students involved,” Hilderbrand said.

To participate, the students were nominated by their high schools to take part in the camp.

For more information, contact Hilderbrand at (256) 439-6871 or bhilderbrand@gadsdenstate.edu.

By William Thornton