VU receives grant from 3M to support Area 31 Career Center
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A collaboration between Vincennes University and 3M is providing $178,000 toward the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment at the Area 31 Career Center in Indianapolis to better train students for careers in manufacturing, automation and engineering.
The funds will buy 10 Mechatronics trainers, devices that mirror the technology used in modern factories, the university said. The devices provide students hands-on experience with programmable logic controllers, sensors and automation controls.
The Area 31 Career Center, located at Ben Davis High School, serves 11 school districts.
“This investment is a game-changer for our students,” VU Area 31 integrated mechanics instructor James Duddleston said in a news release. “They are working the same systems they will encounter in the field. The curriculum has come to life, and they can step right into advanced manufacturing roles right out of high school.”
A check presentation with representatives from Saint Paul, Minnesota-based 3M, VU and workforce and education partners was held in May to commemorate the collaboration.
VU said the initiative reinforces its commitment to aligning education with workforce needs as the state works to overcome shortages of skilled-trade professionals.
“Partnerships like this are essential in closing the skills gap and empowering young learners with opportunities that truly prepare them for the future of work,” Kimberly Wright, director of the VU Center for Applied Robotics and Automation, said in the release. “With the support of 3M, and the excellent faculty at Area 31 in our Early College programs, we’re able to provide students direct access to real-world technologies and career pathways that lead to high-wage, meaningful jobs.”