FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2009
Contact: Michael Corby 904.632.3310 (cell: 904.608.0415)
(MEDIA NOTE: Last chances to get cool video and a story on the grant-funded Manufacturing Summer Camp are afternoon of July 22 and morning of July 24)

Florida Community College free manufacturing summer camp made possible by grant from Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs
Founder/actor John Ratzenberger is nuts about tinkering; wants students to be too!

Forty Northeast Florida students have been gaining hands-on experience at Florida Community College at the free summer camp called IM² (Industrial Manufacturing and Machining).

FCCJ was winner of a 2009 manufacturing camp grant awarded by Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs, (the Foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl.), founded by John Ratzenberger. The grant is sponsored by The Gene Haas Foundation.

The IM² Summer Camp is a fun manufacturing career exploration experience for middle and high-school students. Campers are gaining confidence using manual and automated machining equipment and manufacturing simulators. They have designed and manufactured their individual projects. Campers have visited manufacturing companies to explore the environments and had speakers provide information about manufacturing careers and how to pursue those career paths.

“There is an ever-increasing demand for highly skilled professionals who can design, program and operate technology,” said actor, director and producer John Ratzenberger, NBT founder once known as the wise-cracking letter carrier Cliff on the TV sitcom “Cheers.”

“Creating a skilled workforce in the trades is vital to the future of America, and it all starts with getting young people to take pride in tinkering,” Ratzenberger said.