PRODUCTION AND MANUFACTURING ACADEMY 2022 CELEBRATES THE CLASS GRADUATION
SPOKANE VALLEY, WASHINGTON, USA – July 28, 2022
Thirty-three high local school students will graduate from the Production and Manufacturing Academy this Friday after spending three weeks in this interactive trades immersion experience. The students spent time with local area manufacturers with a goal of gaining an understanding of the trades and to explore potential future careers. The graduation ceremony will take place at 1 p.m., Friday, July 29 at East Valley High School.
The Production and Manufacturing Academy (PMA) was founded in 2019 to provide an opportunity for high school upperclassmen to explore careers in engineering, welding, machining, design and more. Started with a small manufacturing consortium, the academy has doubled in size in three years of operation. Lead by Wagstaff, Inc., Pearson Packaging Systems, Hanson Industries, Inc., Mackay Manufacturing, Kaiser Aluminum, and Idaho Central Credit Union, the academy consists of manufacturing and education entities that joined forces to actively address the ongoing shortage of skilled trade workers. The shared goal of each PMA sponsor was to coach the students in business planning, production, sales and marketing in the manufacturing world. In an effort to reach more students, this year the Academy was expanded to multiple locations.
The students will be selling their finished products at the sponsor companies’ facilities and on the Academy’s website. The products completed by the apprentices include the following:
Heirloom Chest - hand-crafted wooden storage chest.
Step 'n Sit Stool - solid easy-to-use folding step-stool.
Hole in One - a perfect cross between corn-hole and marble toss games.
Limited Edition Artisan Birdhouse - uniquely styled birdhouse.
Portable Checkerboard - handmade rustic gameboard.
The Griz Box - rustic, custom engraved decorative box.
Charcuterie Cutting Board - custom made with maple and cherry wood.
Standard Cutting Board - a smaller size version of the charcuterie board.
Students will also make presentations on their experiences at the graduation ceremony. Each student that completes the entirety of the training with perfect attendance will be awarded a certficate and a monetary stipend. The students will also be able to apply for scholarships that are funded by the PMA sponsors.
For information on the Academy and the Manufacturing Consortium, go to https://www.theproductionacademy.net/.
Premier Partners:
Wagstaff, Inc.
Pearson Packaging
Mackay Manufacturing
Hanson Industries, Inc.
Kaiser Aluminum
Idaho Central Credit Union
Machinists Institute
Anchor Partners:
Hotstart
Career Connect Washington
Greater Spokane, Inc.
Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce
KXLY
Academy Supporters & Community Partners
East Valley School District
West Valley School District
Newport High School, Newport WA
Kootenai Technical Education Campus
Cheney High School
Merkle Standard
Northwest Steel Fab Inc.
Unicep
Community Colleges of Spokane
Spokane Workforce Council
Altek Industries
Hawk Ridge Systems
Central Valley School District
Stimson Lumber
Media Contact:
Meng Yu
Wagstaff, Inc.
Phone: 509-891-8058
Email: meng.yu@wagstaff.com
Third Annual Production and Manufacturing Academy
SPOKANE VALLEY, WASHINGTON, USA – July 18, 2022
Wagstaff, Inc. and several local businesses and entities are welcoming 35 local high school students to a three-week interactive trades immersion experience starting Monday, July 11. During their training, the students will experience a real-world product cycle from start to finish, and gain experience to the inner workings of the trades. The academy will conclude with a graduation ceremony at the end of July.
The Production and Manufacturing Academy (PMA) was founded in 2019 to provide an opportunity for high school upperclassmen to explore careers in engineering, welding, machining, design and more. Started with a small manufacturing consortium, the academy has doubled in size in three years of operation. Lead by Wagstaff, Inc., Pearson Packaging Systems, Hanson Industries, Inc., Mackay Manufacturing, Kaiser Aluminum, and Idaho Central Credit Union, the academy consists of manufacturing and education entities that joined forces to actively address the ongoing shortage of skilled trade workers. The shared goal of each PMA sponsor was to coach the students in business planning, production, sales and marketing in the manufacturing world.
During the academy, students will be grouped into teams that design, create, manufacture and sell specific products. Students will experience every step of the manufacturing process, receive exclusive tours of several facilities, gain an understanding of the manufacturing world, and explore potential future careers. Students will also have the opportunity to job shadow with engineers, welders, designers, and other various professionals.
The student teams will make presentations on their products and experiences during their upcoming graduation ceremony. Each student that completes the entirety of the training with perfect attendance will be awarded a certficate and a monetary stipend. The students will also be able to apply for scholarships that are funded by the PMA sponsors.
For more information on the academy, go to https://www.wagstaff.com/Wagstaff/Careers.htm or https://www.theproductionacademy.net/. The following businesses and community partners are participating in this year’s PMA.
Premier Partners:
Wagstaff, Inc.
Pearson Packaging
Mackay Manufacturing
Hanson Industries
Kaiser Aluminum
Idaho Central Credit Union
Machinists Institute
Anchor Partners:
Hotstart
Career Connect Washington
Greater Spokane, Inc.
Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce
KXLY
Academy Supporters & Community Partners:
East Valley School District
West Valley School District
Newport High School, Newport WA
Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC)
Cheney High School
Merkle Standard
Northwest Steel Fab Inc.
Unicep
Community Colleges of Spokane
Spokane Workforce Council
Altek Industries
Hawk Ridge Systems
Central Valley School District
Stimson Lumber
Media Contact
Meng Yu
Wagstaff, Inc.
meng.yu@wagstaff.com
509.891.8058