The Engineering and Drafting Technology program at Northwest Kansas Technical College received funding from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation in support of their Industry Readiness Initiative.
The Industry Readiness Initiative’s mission is to provide all students with enriching learning experiences through the use of new innovative equipment and essential classroom materials. The Engineering and Drafting Technology lab is a collaborative space where students come together to design, create, and build items of their own creation through inquiry-based learning.
Funding from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation was used to purchase new innovative equipment, classroom materials, and engineering industry specific tools such as an enhanced 3D printer, portable drafting tables, new desk chairs, milling machine accessories, projector, and iPads. These items are innovative and essential to emulate current industry standards. This lab equipment will provide a real-world, practical introduction to engineering design and prototyping with an emphasis on design for manufacturability.
The recent improvements to the Engineering and Drafting Technology lab have drawn interest and new support from their advisory board, as well as new student prospects. Additional equipment was needed to help facilitate the expansion of the program, which has included the addition of several new high school juniors and seniors from Goodland High School.
The Engineering and Drafting Technology program at Northwest Tech provides a well-balanced curriculum in drafting and related subjects by covering the four basic areas of mechanical, civil, architectural, and computer-aided drafting. For more information on The Engineering and Drafting Technology program and how to apply, please visit fhnw.edu