COMPTON—This summer, local high school students are learning machining and machine mathematics through El Camino College Compton Center’s Workforce Innovation Partnership (WIP) program. The program prepares students for industry-endorsed certification, such as the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) Level I Machining Certification.

In addition, students who participate in the program receive college credit, hands-on training, free books and the opportunity to network with industry employers.

To pique students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers, field trips to aerospace, technological development and manufacturing companies are built into the program, giving students the opportunity to engage in conversations with accomplished professionals and meet reallife mentors in and outside of the classroom.

Different types of students benefit from the WIP program: those skilled in math, those naturally inclined to work with their hands and those who know they want a career in a STEM field.

The WIP program began June 18 and ended Aug. 9, offering high school juniors and seniors morning courses in Machine Shop Calculations, as well as an Introduction to CNC Machining. A low instructor/student ratio allows for a challenging but rewarding curriculum.

Melissa Carrazco, an aspiring engineer who attended Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School in Lynwood, was one of 28 local high school students who graduated from ECC Compton Center’s WIP program last summer. “I was confident that by spending the summer covering new technologies and topics like learning to read blueprints, I would further expand my knowledge on what an engineer actually does,” said Carrazco.

WIP is an Economic and Workforce Development funded project through the Career Technical Education (CTE) SB70 division of the California State Chancellor’s Office. This project aligns K-12 career technical education with California Community Colleges. Students receive career education and experiences that will encourage them to seek out postsecondary education for high-skill and high-paying careers.

For more information, contact Alicia Zambrano, ECC Compton Center Career and Technical Education Division, at 310-900-1600, Ext. 2779, or azambrano@elcamino.edu.