Jun 9

Jun 9 Creating More Student-Run Businesses in Schools

Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Soft Skills, Technical Education

Cardinal Manufacturing in the Eleva-Strum School District in Wisconsin is a student-run manufacturing business that has repair services, welding services, woodworking services, machining services, design services, and 3D printing services.

May 21

May 21 A Tech Ed Program That Teaches Professionalism

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Soft Skills, Technical Education

I recently had an opportunity to work with the technical education program at Eleva-Strum School District in Wisconsin. The project that I had for the students was to modify a few parts for a mechanical clock. It was an amazing experience to be greeted at the door by a student and the student gave me a great handshake. The technical education class teaches these soft skills to the students, starting in seventh grade.

Apr 26

Apr 26 What it Takes to Become a Machinist

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Manufacturing, Technical Education

Machining and Tool & Die Making is what I have spent most of my career doing. There is something to be said for being able to turn a raw piece of material into a complex finished part. Through all my roles in the machine shop environment, I have identified a few soft skills, hard skills, and technical skills to have mastered if you want to be a great machinist.

Apr 25

Apr 25 Building Solid Employability Skills in a School Program

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Machining, Manufacturing, Technical Education

A few years ago, I learned about the Cardinal Manufacturing business in Eleva-Strum High School in Wisconsin. I was invited to attend their workshop on how they built their program in their technical education department. It was such an inspiration to hear how engaged the students were and how they were learning solid employability skills.

Apr 7

Apr 7 Being a Guest Speaker in Schools Is Important

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Manufacturing, Technical Education

For much of my childhood I didn’t want to be in school, probably like most people. But now I am trying to get back into several schools as a guest speaker to show students my STEM project and how it relates to my great career that I had in manufacturing. It is important to show the students that manufacturing and engineering is an awesome career choice.

Feb 24

Feb 24 Cardinal Manufacturing Overview

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Machinist, Machinist Interview, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineer, Soft Skills, Technical Education

Cardinal Manufacturing is a student-run business in the Eleva-Strum High School. In a student-run business the students are responsible for all aspects of the business. It is a custom job shop that makes machined parts for community members and people throughout the country. Check out this video on the program.

Feb 6

Feb 6 A Classroom Presentation in a Middle School Engineering Class

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Engineer, Makerspace, Manufacturing Engineer, Soft Skills, STEM, Technical Education

I gave a classroom presentation in two engineering classes within the technical education department at a local middle school. The students were engaged in the mechanical clock presentation and asked me great questions.

Jan 22

Jan 22 Cardinal Manufacturing: Leading in Technical Education

Erin Luke

Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Soft Skills, STEM, Technical Education

Nestled in Eleva-Strum High School, Cardinal Manufacturing is revolutionizing technical education through its student-run business model. As a beacon of excellence, Cardinal Manufacturing in Strum, Wisconsin empowers students to gain hands-on experience in manufacturing while running a real business. This innovative approach not only equips students with invaluable skills but also positions the program as a leader in the technical education world.

Jan 12

Jan 12 A Technical Education Program’s Community Support

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Soft Skills, Technical Education

The community support of the technical education program at Eleva Strum High School is impressively large and there are several reasons why. The technical education program operates as a student-run business that fabricates and machines parts for customers. The business is called Cardinal Manufacturing. The money made by the business is used to buy raw materials, upgrade equipment, marketing, cover the operating costs, and to pay the student employees.

Dec 31

Dec 31 The Eleva-Strum Technical Education Program

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Soft Skills, Technical Education

I recently had an opportunity to visit the technical education department at the Eleva-Strum high school. While I was in the shop, there was an eighth-grade class working on manual milling projects, sheet metal projects, welding projects, and brazing projects. These projects that they were making teach the students the fundamental principles of manufacturing. With this class, the students spend six days in each subject area, then they switch to another project. They learn the basics like how to read a tape measure, and how to use a dial caliper.

Dec 29

Dec 29 Cardinal Manufacturing Book

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Technical Education

This book is an insight into how to start a student-run business in your school district. It offers a look inside Cardinal Manufacturing in the Eleva-Strum School District. It defines what a student-run business is and lists the benefits of a program like this. Check it out!

Oct 30

Oct 30 Spartan Manufacturing - A Student Run Business

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Machining, Machinist, Technical Education

Spartan Manufacturing in the School District of Superior Wisconsin is on a mission to expose students to industry and the trades in their area, and to better represent all the post high school options available to students at Superior High School. They want to remove the stigma of a two-year technical degree or an apprenticeship program.

Apr 20

Apr 20 Giving A Technical Education Class Presentation

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Apprenticeship, CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Collaboration, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Soft Skills, Technical Education, Worker Shortage

I was provided with a few opportunities to talk about my STEM project and my career in several schools. It can be a very rewarding experience to a part of. I never saw myself as a speaker or presenter but with my deep knowledge in the subject, I developed a passion for sharing my experiences in manufacturing.

Jan 15

Jan 15 Machine Shop Math

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Technical Education

How we are taught how to pronounce a measurement in mathematics class is different from how we pronounce a measurement in machine shop class. In the following chart, I will break down the decimal place pronunciation of 0.123456.

Jul 29

Jul 29 The Student-Run Business Teaching Model

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Soft Skills, Technical Education

While recently attending a workshop on starting or growing your school-based enterprise at the school district of Eleva-Strum in Wisconsin I discovered that they have great model for their student-run business. Their program, Cardinal Manufacturing teaches soft skills and employability skills along with learning the technology.