Video: Unique Camp Gives Youngsters Hands On Opportunities At Advanced Manufacturing Plants

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – It is day three of the “TEK 2 Go”  camp and students are at Hawkeye Industries, making a clock.

This is the ninth year Hawkeye Industries, the Community Development Foundation and Itawamba Community College have joined forces for the advanced manufacturing camp.

It’s all about taking what the 12 to 15 year olds have learned in school and showing them how it applies in the real world.

“Hope they realize the great career opportunities in the facilities around and see the importance of math in school, it’s actually hands on applications for some of the things they are doing in schools today,” said Scott Blackley, with ICC.

Bryan Hawkins owns Hawkeye Industries. He looks forward to this day, when the young people can tour his plant, and hopefully get a better idea of the conditions at modern manufacturing facilities.

“It’s a clean environment, usually are well managed, not a lot of labor intensive operations, some are, but not like an assembly line, you get to think for yourself, every job is different , it has variety and you put your skills to use,” Hawkins said.

Students say the unique camp is not only interesting and informative, but has many benefits for their future plans and goals.

“I’m thinking about being an aeronautical engineer, aerospace engineer and I thought with this, it would be a really good experience for me to help me and show what kind of stuff I might be doing,” said Brennan Palmer, of Mooreville.

“I learned that welding isn’t as easy as it looks. It introduces us to what we could be doing in our jobs,” said Mac Gentry, of Mantachie.

Along with Hawkeye Industries, participants in the TEK2Go camp will visit other manufacturers, including Toyota. It is a full five days for the young whiz kids.

Participants are chosen for the TEK 2 Go camp based on recommendations from their teachers.