Clinton Community College’s IAM Hosts CV-TEC New Visions Applied Engineering High School Experience Day

A group of students and teachers looking over two tables with a bridge made out of spaghetti spanning the opening between the tables

The Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM) at Clinton Community College welcomed approximately 30 high school students on Wednesday, Jan. 14, for Champlain Valley Educational Services’ CV-TEC New Visions Applied Engineering Program High School Experience Day.

Three students working on a bridge made of spaghetti The annual event introduces students from local school districts to the Applied Engineering program and the educational pathways it offers.

This year’s hands-on challenge tasked participants with designing and building bridges using uncooked spaghetti. Students competed to create structures capable of supporting the most weight, all while utilizing a limited number of “credits” to purchase additional materials.

Current New Visions students assisted the visiting students throughout the day and later tested each bridge by applying weight. The top three teams, whose bridges held the most weight, took home the win.

“This is an opportunity for students to learn what engineering really looks like,” said CV-TEC Learning Hub Principal Mark Brown. “Many students are drawn to engineering because they enjoy math and science, but this experience gives them a chance to see the field firsthand and decide if it’s the right path for them.”

Three students standing side-by-side with medals around their necks Judges evaluated the bridges on build quality, teamwork and overall performance. The judging panel included Stan Kissel, director of continuing education and workforce development at the IAM at Clinton, as well as professional engineers Ryan Davies, from the New York State Department of Transportation, and Amy Davies, from Casella Waste Systems.

The day concluded with a questions and answers session, giving prospective students the chance to learn directly from those currently enrolled in the program.

“I love that we do something different every day,” said Hannah Bates, a senior in the program. “It’s great to figure out what you like and what you don’t.”

“This program is a great opportunity,” said Griffin Durocher, also a senior. “I enjoy meeting new people and working on projects like 3D modeling. That’s my favorite.”

The CV-TEC New Visions Applied Engineering program is housed at the IAM at Clinton, utilizing the facility’s equipment to support the coursework.

“We’ve always had a really good relationship with Clinton Community College,” Brown said. “Our collaboration has grown over the years, giving students exposure to a postsecondary institution, and, in some cases, college-level coursework.”

That strong relationship is part of a larger effort to connect education with workforce needs.

“Events like this showcase the power of partnerships,” said Billy Jones, vice president of strategic initiatives and workforce development at the IAM at Clinton. “By working together, we’re helping high school students get a head start in exploring career pathways in advanced manufacturing and engineering—fields that are critical to our region’s economic growth.”