Grant Gives Waubonsee Students Opportunity
to Learn High-Tech Field

Sugar Grove - A $68,000 High Technology School-to-Work training grant given to the Sugar Grove-based Institute of Tribology and Coatings (ITC) will allow eight Waubonsee Community College students the chance to intern with the ITC, obtaining invaluable business and technology training in the process.

The grant, which was announced by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich June 26, will be used to teach eight Waubonsee students and four Indian Valley Vocational Center students not only the science behind tribology, but also the entrepreneurship, customer service and collaborative skills needed to succeed in business.

"Governor Blagojevich's High Technology School-to-Work Program gives us in the high-tech industry the tools to create a future workforce that is prepared to serve this growing field. We are teaching students through a hands-on, interactive learning process and exposing them to a variety of important career opportunities," said Steven Meyers, executive vice president of the ITC. "We see this intern program as an excellent opportunity for Waubonsee students to learn how to take their education and market themselves to employers."

TRIBOLOGY GRANT - ADD ONE

The ITC is a nonprofit organization of industries, government labs and universities that offers technical services, testing, and science and technology solutions to the government, commercial industries, insurers and the legal community. A wide variety of industries rely on the ITC for

the organization's expertise in tribology, the study of materials and friction. Everything from wear resistant medical implant devices to improving

fuel efficiency in the automotive industry is reliant upon tribology.

"The ITC is a world leader in what they do," said Dr. Paul Hummel, Waubonsee Dean for Technology, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences. "I hope that we can continue and expand our relationship with ITC long after our students complete their internships."

As part of their internships, students will work in groups during a summer training session to learn how to develop proposals, as well as how to analyze and present data. Then, during the academic year, participating students, using the Internet, will correspond with scientists and engineers to brainstorm ideas and solve problems. The students will also work with the ITC to examine ways to improve the performance of military equipment in harsh desert environments.

"The High Technology School-to-Work Program is preparing Illinois ' workforce of tomorrow for high-paying, high-skill jobs that require advanced technical training. Increasing the number of trained students pursuing careers in advanced technology will have a tremendous impact on the economy for years to come. This is an important investment in both our students and our economic future, and we are proud to support the Institute of Tribology and Coatings in this innovative initiative," Gov. Blagojevich said.

The partnership with Waubonsee was facilitated by ITC Board Chairman Andrew Faville, who also serves on the Waubonsee Community College Foundation Board of Directors.