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14 | /INSIGHT ON MANUFACTURING • September 2014 w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m If you're too busy to read this, then it's a good sign you should. ContaCt: Sky Van RoSSum 920.883.7219 • QAL provides complex electro mechanical assembly & supply chain management to Medical, Avionics, Fire Suppression and Industrial OEM's. • Multi-level assembly, functional testing, paint & welding capabilities, in a modular production environment for maximum flexibility. • Project Management, Proto- typing and Engineering Support. • ISO 13485, 9001, CE, CSA and ITAR certified. UL Panel approved. • Located in Marinette Wisconsin, with global shipping capability. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K logo.ai 1 2/27/2014 7:34:35 AM QalmanufaCtuRing.Com QalmEDiCal.Com GET IN THE GAME c o n t i n u e d lighter stuff with smaller engines." Julia Scruton has been in classes where she's the only girl and has heard comments like "boys have such engineering minds." But other experiences like an engineering summer camp and Science Olympiad helped encourage and develop her interest, she says. Perhaps most vital is that the interest began formulating early in her life. That's the way to eliminate hesitation about manufacturing- related courses from both students and their parents, Meyer says. Last year, the Brillion School District adopted a K-4-through-fifth-grade required STEM education and passed a public referendum to build an elementary- level STEM innovation center. "If we start with kids at age 4, those misconceptions never become misconceptions," he says. "I can tell you now that if I asked 98 percent of the kids in the elementary school what their favorite class was, they'd say 'STEM.' "Now think about that in the aspect of a parent of a kid in their junior year saying, 'I think I might want to go into a manufacturing-related career,'" Meyer says. "Now the parent is going to say, 'I think you absolutely should, it's been your favorite class since you were 4.'" Meyer says the mindset will help lead more girls to these classes as well. Right now, enrollment in his high school classes is about 30 percent female. Starting them in STEM classes at the kindergarten level would help their interest in tech-ed courses to naturally grow. Then, when the guidance counselor asks them during their freshman year if they're planning to take a STEM class, "the girl's going to look at the guidance counselor confused, and say, 'Of course I am, I always have, why wouldn't I?'" Meyer says. "It really takes care of so many of those misconceptions. They're not even going to know the difference because the misconceptions have never been there from the beginning." - Complex Loan Solu ons - Cash Management Services - Local Decision Making - Personalized Service fnbfoxvalley.com Your Business Banking Partner. Member FDIC Steve Barry - AVP-Commercial Banking 920.882.1670| sbarry@fnbfoxvalley.com