MCTI Cabinetmaking/Millwork Program Wins Woodworking Machinery Industry Association Educator of the Year Award

Richard Hannigan, WMIA board member and Holz-Her U.S. Inc. vice president/sales, announced the Michigan Career and Technical Institute as recipient of the 2007 Educator of the Year Award. This award, given by the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association (WMIA), honors and acknowledges the efforts of the education community and provides recognition for institutions that have made significant strides in training students in modern woodworking principles utilizing high-technology machinery and software.

At the awards presentation Hannigan said, “WMIA has strongly believed in the importance and value of educational institutions for providing information and training as a window to career opportunities in the woodworking industry. In an era when young people often are seeking challenging careers which utilize and incorporate modern technology, the woodworking industry is often challenged by a perception of a low-skill, short-term career path.”

He noted that, “This MCTI department has been putting a steady influx of competent technicians into the workforce for over 63 years.” He added that Placement services are available to all students for life and that the department maintains an extensive database of wood-related companies throughout the upper Midwest. The program had 100 percent placement in 2005, all within the industry, and placement is consistently above 90 percent, with an average of 20 graduates a year going to woodworking companies.

MCTI Director, Dennis Hart said “The MCTI Cabinetmaking program has provided valuable training to students and consistently placed them into good, long- term jobs.”

Jim Wellever, director of MCTI’s Cabinetmaking/Millwork Training Department, accepted the award at the ceremony held in South Carolina on October 23, 2007.

MCTI’s program was previously nominated in 2004. WMIA recognized the West Ottawa High School’s innovative and comprehensive woodworking curriculum as 2006 Educator of the Year Award winner. Other past winners include: Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) of Reston, VA, Georgia Tech College of Architecture of Atlanta, GA, Pittsburg State University's Woodworking Technology Department of Pittsburg, Kansas and Kent Career & Technical Center of Grand Rapids, ichigan.

NOTE:

Planit Solutions recently expanded its support of the MCTI Cabinetmaking/Millwork program with the donation of a network license.

This greatly enhances training opportunities by allowing students access to all of Planit’s products including AlphaCAM®, Cabinet Vision® and Cabnetware®. Don Bigelow-Machine Partnership Leader for Planit Solutions, has served on the business advisory council for many years.

Planit’s donations to the program total over $88,000 to date.

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