theLAKER | 9 Growth opportunities Blue Mitchell’s internship last summer at the Wegmans Organic Farm offered a chance to test what they had learned in a year of horticulture classes. “Some days I went off to transplant flowers. Other days I was pruning and trellising tomatoes. Still others I spent harvesting wheatgrass in the controlled environment agriculture building,” Blue said. “Much of it was related to principles I learned in classes like plant propagation and soil science.” Blue looks forward to graduating in May and transferring to a related bachelor’s program. Internships often give students confidence that they’re in the right program – or offer a chance to change their minds early in their education. They are a first step in building a professional network and may even lead directly to full-time work. The State University of New York (SUNY) has boosted funding for internships in recent years, making it easier for students to get real- world experiences. FLCC’s student population is trending older: 36 percent of the out-of-high-school population is 25 and older. They often live independently and pay their own housing, food and other expenses. They may not be able to afford internships that pay less or only earn them class credit. The SUNY Internship Grant provides students with a $695 stipend on completion of an unpaid internship and a $175 gas card on completion of any internship. Over the last year, FLCC has placed students in 53 internships supported by this program. A new program, the SUNY Mental Health Internship, started this spring to encourage psychology students to explore careers in mental health. Students are paid $16 per hour for up to 240 hours. Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic and Wayne Behavioral Health are among the participating employers. A better way to learn welding It’s safer. It saves money. And students enjoy it. FLCC’s new welding class uses augmented reality equipment for hands-on training without the danger of sparks, molten metal and heat. Students in the 12-week course at the Newark Campus Center don a welding visor and grasp a torch-like tool. Both are connected by cables to a computer running a welding simulation program. The computer program provides real-time feedback on students’ speed, accuracy, hand positions and other factors, said instructor Jahaan Williams, a resident of Lyons. “In the welding world, it’s just muscle memory. The equipment takes away the fear factor of sparks and smoke,” he said. This allows students to focus on technique for several weeks before finishing the class with tasks in a real welding shop. Welding offers steady, good-paying work that students can do anywhere in the world, Williams noted. Welders may be in high demand, but setting up training sites with the right tools, safety equipment and raw materials is costly. The computerized kits provide an affordable, life-like experience while eliminating the risk of injury. FLCC worked with Wayne County Community Schools and the Wayne County Action Program to develop the program. Ontario County Economic Development and the SUNY Transformation Fund provided funds for the augmented reality machines. Paul Kuehnert of Shortsville, a dual biotechnology and horticulture major, gives a presentation at the Lockheed Martin Global Vision Center. Professor Melissa Miller gives a demonstration of the Anatomage table during an event marking the 10th anniversary of the Incubator, the science tutoring center. Photo by Rikki Van Camp Horticulture student Blue Mitchell Jahaan Williams, instructor of the FLCC welding program, observes a student using the augmented reality welding machine.
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