TANNER — Calhoun Community College has been named among 16 other schools in the 2023 Project MFG Regional Integrated Advanced Manufacturing Competition.

The final four teams will advance to the final round of competition.

Teams are challenged with real-world scenarios and pressure-tested to showcase the critical skills needed to succeed in modern advanced manufacturing.

“I can’t begin to explain how milestones such as these are testaments to the advanced curriculum our technologies programs continue to produce,” said Tad Montgomery, Calhoun Technologies instructor. “Our students continuously go the extra mile in learning all the vital components of their programs and use those skills to compete among the best of the best in these types of competitions.

“We use these platforms to get better as well as to improve our classroom learning as well.”

Project MFG’s competitions aim to change the perception of the skilled trades and showcase successful careers in the industry.

The American manufacturing industry is facing a skills gap, potentially leaving more than two million positions unfilled if more young people do not enter the skilled trades.

The manufacturing industry touches many aspects of our daily lives – transportation, medical, technology, and defense to name a few.

Each year the competition becomes more competitive during the regional round as the next generation of skilled trades professionals is able to show off their advanced educational training.

In addition to Calhoun, this year’s teams include Wichita State University Tech, Fresno City College, Minnesota State College Southeast, Suncoast Technical College, Yuba College, Southwestern Illinois College, Ozarks Technical Community College, Streamwood High School, Lowell High School, Vincennes University, Gadsden State Community College, Central Alabama Community College, Pickens High School, Tennessee College of Applied Technology at McKenzie, and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.

Click here to follow the Calhoun team.