Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- In order to increase enrollment in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Department of Industrial Studies and introduce high school students to the manufacturing industry, the department has formed a new program called Hot Wheelz. Kyle Metzloff, along with UWP industrial studies students will travel throughout the tri-states performing metal casting demonstrations and presenting information about the UWP industrial studies program and career opportunities in industrial studies.

<"There is a shortage of people in manufacturing even with the economy right now. They still have to hire people to stay in business because so many manufacturing employees are retiring," said Metzloff.

Metzloff and his students have already gone to Dodgeville and Waunakee High Schools. They bring an electric kiln and safety gear so they can make metal castings at the high school. At Dodgeville, Metzloff and his students demonstrated metal casting by making a truck hitch cover. Some Dodgeville students then got some hands-on experience and made a hitch cover themselves.

"We had a great turnout of over 100 students. It was a really good event and very well organized. Kyle was extremely knowledgeable. I would absolutely recommend this program to other high schools. A lot of schools don't have anything like this to expose students to manufacturing and careers in manufacturing," said John Moran, technology education teacher at Dodgeville High School.

Not only is the program educating students about manufacturing, it also aims to help high schools expand their technology and acquire more equipment. Metzloff will work with high schools, providing information on how to get donations and order equipment.

"It's a win-win situation. They get knowledge and hands-on experience of manufacturing and they get help on how to order equipment and get donations. We get to network with other high school technology education programs," said Metzloff.

"It's a continued partnership. It's important for schools to understand that the university and the high school have the opportunity to reach so many high schools this way. The UWP Department of Industrial Studies also has outstanding faculty who are experts in their area. Anytime you can develop a partnership with these types of people, it's going to be beneficial," said Moran.

Neenah Foundry in Neenah, has helped to sponsor the program with a donation of $7,500.

High Schools may book Hot Wheelz for any available Friday. Anyone wanting more information about the Hot Wheelz program or wanting to book the program for their high school, may contact Metzloff at (608) 342-1142 or metzlofk@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Kyle Metzloff, professor, metal technology, (608) 342-1142, metzlofk@uwplatt.edu Written by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu