Thursday, Nov 29, 2007 - 04:24 PM
 
By Shireese Bell

DARLINGTON — Students taking mechatronics and electricity courses at Florence School District 1’s Career Center visited Wellman Inc. on Thursday to apply what they learn in the classroom to future careers.
Doug Guinn, plant manager at Wellman Inc., Mildred Hurd, Wellman’s human resources manager, and other employees were on hand to give the students a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the facility.
Wellman is an international corporation and manufacturer of plastic packaging, fibers and engineering resins, according to its Web site www.wellmaninc.com.
The trip, sponsored by the Florence Rotary Club, included a tour of the facility where students were able to see how polyester fibers and other materials are made.
Mechatronics I students attending the trip were Marquis Fleming, Brandon Herbert, Chanequa Jones, Sheng “Jason” Zheng, Quoryer Sanders, Keanan Long, Terrel Betts, Willie McNair, Kyron Whitfield and Samuel Green. Electricity students were Reggie Goodman, Whitney Baker, Tony Graham, Will Jackson and Mark Hunter, along with their teacher Jim Johnson.
Whitfield, 15, and Betts, 16, both South Florence High School students, said they enjoyed the trip and learned a lot about the company and its products.
“It was interesting because I didn’t know polyester was the same stuff you made bottles out of,” Whitfield said. “It’s interesting how you can apply it.”
Both students say engineering is a possible career choice for them. The trip as well as the mechatronics class will help them in making that decision.
“I want to go into engineering,” Whitfield said. “Mechatronics helps you figure out what area (of engineering) you want to go into.”
Betts, who said he wanted to major in computer engineering, said he would be interested in keeping a connection with Wellman by having its employees visit the career center so students could learn more about specific jobs in the company.
Bob Ragno, the mechatronics teacher at the career center, said the trip was very informative for the students and relates to the applications taught in the class.
Mechatronics is the combination of mechanics, electronic engineering and software engineering. The curriculum uses specialized equipment to enhance instruction in electrical wiring, circuit breakers and fuses, hydraulics, pneumatics, robotics, electrical blueprints, and other topics.
“The program will prepare the students for a two -year or four-year program in engineering,” he said. “It’s probably the best application I’ve seen for your math and sciences.”
The mechatronics curriculum was made possible though a $109,000 grant from The School Foundation. The grant was a joint effort between the career center and the Florence Education and Business Alliance.

On the Web
Florence Career Center, www.fsd1.org/careercenter
Wellman Inc., www.wellmaninc.com
The School Foundation, www.theschoolfoundation.org