Washington County High Schools Visit Nascote Industries As Part Of Manufacturing Month

Students from Nashville and Okawville High Schools recently visited Nascote Industries as part of Kaskaskia College and the South Central Illinois Growth Alliance (SCIGA) celebration of Illinois Manufacturing Month.

Students were able to view a Nascote introduction and safety video and then learned of the expectations as an employee at the plant and across the industry.  They also learned of the opportunities and benefits of working at Nascote as well as heard from several employees who spoke of their history at the plant.

Students were also treated to a plant tour of the Molding, Assembly and Paint Departments.

Students from Okawville who visited Nascote included, Nathan Mittendorf, Dustin Teter, Wyatt Krohne, Jordan Green, Tanner Martin, Lane Shilling, Braden Meyer, Tommy Sagelhorst, Riley Frederking, Greg Sweet, Brandon Ratermann, Montana Logan, Brendon Kelley, Marlon Rodriguez, Eddie Johnston Jacob Hodge, Josh Koerkenmeier, Chandler Snyder, Barin Compton, Cameron Hufker, Brendon Phillips, David Bent, and Donovan Cepeda.

Okawville Jr./Sr. High School Principal, Keith Senior, says his students were excited to be able to visit and tour the plant.  “I am glad we were able to show students what actually goes on inside these large factories we drive by every day. We often wonder what is actually going on inside, so I’m glad my students were able to see it firsthand. We realize that there is a dire need for people to go into the trades and there is a need for manpower right now, hopefully this opportunity gave students an option after graduation.”

Nashville High School Instructor, Doug Kell who has spent a lot of time in the “Big 3” automotive plants prior to becoming a teacher says, “I am impressed at how much like those plants Nascote is, in terms of appearance, operation and size.  The students were very impressed with the tour and the size and scope of the plant.  Many of the kids have relatives that work there, but never realized how significant of an operation Nascote/Magna is to the community and the automotive business.

Students from Nashville who attended:  Jacob Kwiatkowski, Keaton Schuette, Dylon Malone, Clayton Bennett, Eric Urbanski, Trey Stevenson, Andrew Holle, Javin Ewing, Alex Barnett, Kyle Lamczyk, Zach Brink, and Kyler Klingenberg.

KC Dean of Career and Technical Education George Evans says the tours are a continued portion of the college’s initiative to celebrate Illinois Manufacturing Month. “It is the goal of SCIGA and Kaskaskia College CTE to promote the awareness of the jobs that are available right here in our district, as well as to point out the significant wages and benefits one can earn working in the manufacturing and vocational trades.  We are incredibly thankful for such wonderful partners as Nascote.  They are an superb partner to the college and the community as a whole.  We are lucky the facility is located in our district, as it provides so many good jobs to the hard working people of southern Illinois.”

Several of the students expressed a serious ambition to participate in the Magna Track Program held in cooperation of the plant and Kaskaskia College following graduation with plans on making Nascote their career choice!