Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - University of Wisconsin-Platteville students, Greg Gauerke, Brian Wallace, Dale Linder, Benji Johnson, Andy Ceretto, Jeremy McLimans and Phillip Kubichka, recently received scholarships from the Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF), an organization that is dedicated to promoting interest in metal casting industries. The scholarships were awarded at the UW-Platteville American Foundry Society (AFS) student chapter meeting on March 8. Since 2000, the FEF has given more than $30,000 to the UWP Industrial Studies Department to support scholarships and help update UW-Platteville's metal casting laboratory. The FEF has granted between $7,000 and $8,000 each year to fund scholarships for students who are planning to go into the foundry industry. Professor of industrial studies, Kyle Metzloff, chooses the recipients based on the students' participation in the AFS student chapter, co-ops/internships and school projects in the lab.

Frank Headington, corporate vice president of technology for Neenah Foundry and regional vice president of AFS, attended the meeting and spoke about the opportunities available to people entering the foundry industry. He said that due to slow hiring in the 1980s, there is a huge talent gap in the foundry industry, making it easier for new employees to advance in the field. Headington advised the students to take as many coops and internships as possible and to tour as many facilities, including scrap yards and foundry facilities, as they can. He also expressed that the metal casting program at UW-Platteville is well respected due to its focus on providing hands-on experience in a range of areas within the foundry. Charles Kurtti, retired executive vice president of the Neenah Foundry and immediate past president of AFS, confirmed these statements and added, "The future solutions to the industry sit in this room."

Recent UWP industrial studies graduate, Scott Sharpee, also spoke, sharing his experiences working at Neenah Foundry. Later, Metzloff said attracting new employees to the foundry industry is important. He explained that the industry is still fighting a perception problem about the field. "Often when one thinks of the metal casting industry, they picture a low tech and dirty job, whereas, it is really a very high tech field. Once students get involved, they really like it," said Metzloff. During a phone interview, Headington emphasized that it is important to have manufacturing in the United States. "It's a bedrock industry for our nation. A solid manufacturing-based industry is important for strategic national defense." He continued, "Castings are in every industry - cars, airplanes, appliances ... Most people interface with cast products every day." Metzloff has been keeping track of how many of the students, who receive scholarships, actually go into the foundry industry after graduation. He reported that 75 to 80 percent of the students do. The FEF was recently recognized with a Friend of the College award from the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture, for their continued support of the UW-Platteville program. The scholarship recipients are from across Wisconsin: Gauerke of Appleton; Wallace of Berlin; Linder of Steuben; Johnson of Ringle; Ceretto of Cudahy, McLimans of Monroe; and Kubichka of Chilton.

Contact: Kyle Metzloff, professor, Industrial Studies Department, (608) 342-1142,metzlofk@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: Kate McKinney, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,mckinnka@uwplatt.edu