WEBSTER – Hundreds of community members turned out at the Webster School on Monday afternoon and evening, Feb. 13, for the opportunity to see some of the newest additions and updates to the district’s impressive technology program. Tiger Tech open houses have been held annually for the last few years. The program itself started back in 2006, and continues to be a successful school-run business.
Ron Dorn, a tech education teacher at Webster, says, “Tiger Tech open houses are wonderful. It is where our students put on the show and we sit back and enjoy. We are excited this year because we have quite a few of our local technical colleges here, too, where students can see what their options are beyond high school if they want.”
Roy Ward, founder of Tiger Tech and also a tech education teacher at Webster, was eager to show off the five-axis computer numeric control machine, which has only been at the school since last year. Its purchase was funded in part by the Webster School Board of Education, the Tiger Tech program itself, and a significant donation from the Nexen Corporation, which also calls Webster home. The CNC machine was set up at the time of the open house to make specially designed Webster Tiger keychains. Ward explained, “What you see going on inside the machine isn’t water like most people think. It is actually coolant being sprayed. It keeps everything lubricated and keeps the actual tool cooled off. A lot of these machines like this are three-axis. This one is five, meaning the whole table can turn and then also rotate.”
Computer programming is also an important part of the success of Tiger Tech. In another room inside the Tiger Tech wing at the school sat Rylie Snorek, a senior at Webster. He was using a computer program called Fusion 360, which is a commercial computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, computer-aided engineering and printed circuit board design software application. All of that fancy wording and abbreviations were made simple when Snorek showed how he could use the computer program to design different kinds of chess pieces. His design on the computer, mainly done by using coordinates and markers, can be fed into a machine in the next room that actually does the design. Snorek says that he picked up the basics in just one week. While he plans to follow in the footsteps of his dad and his brother to become a firefighter after graduation, Snorek feels what he learned at Tiger Tech is still valuable because, “Computer design is such a growing field.”
Evan Lisdahl was stationed by the 3D printer, which might be a little more common device these days to the general public. First invented in the 1980s by Chuck Hull, an engineer and physicist, 3D printing technology has come a long way. Also called additive manufacturing, 3D printing is the process of making an object by depositing material one tiny layer at a time. Lisdahl explained that it takes him between 8 and 11 hours to make a chess piece.
Representatives from various local businesses and technical colleges were also in attendance at this year’s Tiger Tech open house to discuss career opportunities and post-high-school plans with the high-schoolers. Representatives from Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative were on hand to recruit potential new line workers. It was explained that once you're accepted into an apprenticeship program, you can begin working as a paid apprentice under journeyman line workers who can teach you the knowledge and skills you need to pass your apprenticeship. A line worker apprenticeship takes about 7,000 hours of hands-on work and training classes, or about four years, to complete in most states.
Paul Kalin, a machine tool technician instructor at Northwood Technical College, was also on hand. Kalin says, “The four-semester, machine tool program at Northwood Technical College will prepare you to operate and set up machine tools for the machining industry. You will learn general machining skills based on the skills and knowledge identified by the Metalworking Industry Skill Standards Board. You will gain skills in production planning, quality control, metallurgical processes, precision measuring, using an engineer’s handbook and interpreting prints, emphasized computer-aided machining and programming techniques.” Kalin explained that it’s critical that taxpayers continue to support Wisconsin’s technical colleges, such as Northwoods Technical College. Students pay about one-third of the cost of their schooling, with taxpayers funding approximately the other two-thirds through property taxes. However, the theory is that students will learn a valuable trade and then pay that back when it’s their time to pay taxes.
One of the most impressive parts of the Tiger Tech open house was actually located out back behind the Tiger Tech wing. That is where a house is being constructed by students. Inside the house, David Nutt explained, “We started building this around the start of the school year in September and it should be done right around the time school lets out, or maybe just a little into the summer. This is sold off, moved somewhere else and then the funds from this are used to fund the Tiger Tech program.” Students explained that a building is typically constructed every other year.
One of the special guests in attendance was state Rep. Gae Magnafici, who represents Wisconsin’s 28th Assembly District. Magnafici said, “I am very proud, very proud of this school. Trades are very important and are a real priority. I really encourage people to come up here and see what is going on here in Webster.”
