My name is Derrick Hintzman and I am a current student at BTC in the welding program. The old ANGI building in Milton, WI would be perfect for the new advanced manufacturing school I think. AWS Student Organization from Blackhawk Tech. College in which I am an active member, has also teamed up with a few local businesses from Milton, WI to build some new benches for the town of Milton. We are all excited about the project! We in the welding program as many others, I am sure, would really like to see this move forward as we all would like the oppertunity to be able to learn an advanced skill in the manufacturing industry. This is a great plan and I for one would really like this to happen and think it would be very beneficial for not only the students but the town of Milton as well!!!!
Sincerely,
Blackhawk Tech. College Student
Derrick Hintzman

This goes back to what I believe, the only way we will regain our economic base and strenght is with Manufacturing. Global economy is a farce being forced upon us by the rich, who want to get richer

Good luck, especially if the local k-12 leaders continue to follow antiquated practice of decided the future of all their graduates by cramming 4 year universities down everyone's throats. Wisconsin universities = big busine$$.

This would be great for BTC and Milton. As long as there is demand for people trained in various aspects of manufacturin, this is a great expansion.
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wtp...the main reason the aviation department was closed was because it was losing money due to a lack of interest in that field. It wasn't worth keeping open for only 6-10 students per program year.

That is exciting and something Wisconsin needs with our efforts to bring manufacturing back to the United States and Wisconsin.
There is a Technical High school in Pleasant Prairie that has an extraordinary curriculum which is 80% hands on and 20% lecture. I would encourage your steering committee to research it. They work in conjunction with Gateway. With my technical background I might be interested in volunteering there down the road.

WTP
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Go to Wisconsin jobnet,,,, You will find HUNDREDS and hundreds of machining, manufacturing, mantainence, rotobics, automated systems and welding jobs in our region and the state,. Then look for aviation jobs.
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The aviation program has been outstanding! It is tragic that the program is being closed... But there are literally thousands of jobs in the trades unfilled in our region because the State Tech College system cannot produce enough skilled workers...
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It is the single most important job a college President has... Getting money! VP's take care of academics etc... If Dr. Eckert can swing money via grants, federal dollars, etc.. without raising taxes to get this advanced manufacturing thing going, than good for him....
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If the Tech Colleges have a purpose at all.. This is it! 49 Thousand (49,000) university grads in the Tech College system because they teach what industry needs... There is NOT enough space at the main campus to expand in order to meet the needs of industry and the jobs that are out there right now...
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People should be thinking of creative ways to support Dr. Eckert and BTC... Because money is short... Budgets are tight... Are you listening industry players?... Are you listening United Alloys? Are you listening Huffocore? Are you listening Stoughton Trailers?, Are you listening ANGI?...Are you listening Alliant? Are you listening Dean?, Mercy?.........

When I was there many years ago I used to call the wing that was used for Industrial trades as the slums. People knew it was there but avoided the area. BTW, I was in an industrial trades course.

The manufacturing base is much broader than aviation, and there are various manufacturers all over while the aviation industry has few and select sites. People need to be able to get jobs without necessarily having to move, especially with the housing market as it currently is.

Where is old doc finding the money for this when he closed the aviation dept down at the airport. He said the school was broke and had to cut expenses and now he spends money like it was growing on trees. It is amazing how he can find money for his pet projects and dump a program that has been around for 75 yrs and graduated 1000's of students over the yrs with careers that thses students can get into other then aviation. Example boeing, space program just to menition a couple. This man need to be removed.

Before BTC borrows any more money or proposes to raise taxes they better pay off the last renovations!