Four students from Bradford Area High School’s student-run manufacturing business, Parkway Industrial, will head to Washington, D.C., for Hill Day Wednesday and Thursday as part of the Northwest Industrial Resource Center’s (NWIRC) delegation.
Wyatt Jordan, a senior engineering technology student and president of BAHS Manufacturing Club; Skye Eakin-Irwin, senior business/marketing student and company treasurer; along with Gage Wilmoth and Ashley Engle, who are both juniors and machine technology students, will travel to the nation’s capital for a meeting with congressional representatives to advocate for Pennsylvania manufacturing.
Each year centers, such as NWIRC, that are part of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) national network and regional manufacturers travel from all parts of the U.S. to meet with members of Congress and their staff to discuss the state of manufacturing, the important role of MEPs, and the impact of their work.
Parkway Industrial is a manufacturer, making real parts in the supply chain of other manufacturers, and helping to build future talent for advanced manufacturing. These elements, combined with the students sharing their real-world experiences and successes, are expected to generate high interest from other manufacturers and Congressional representatives in Washington.
Sean Reams, BAHS manufacturing coordinator and teacher, said, “We have meetings lined up with Rep. G.T. Thompson of the 16th District and Rep. Mike Kelly from the 15th District.
“I believe we will also have time with our two senators, or their staff,” Reams said, referring to Sens. John Fetterman and Bob Casey.
The trip will begin with a welcome reception Wednesday evening and then students will attend a seminar first thing Thursday morning.
Reams said, “The rest of the day will be spent in four or five different meetings, talking about manufacturing, and our student-run manufacturing program, with other manufacturers and the House members from our district and a neighboring district.
“Rep. Thompson has a tour set up for us on Friday morning, and we hope to visit some of the museums and monuments before heading back to Bradford that day,” Reams added.
The students were invited on the trip by Bob Zaruta of NWIRC following a presentation by Parkway Industrial he witnessed for Corry Area School District.
“Like he did for us, Bob Zaruta and NWIRC are planning on helping Corry Area School District get their program up and running, if Corry decides to pursue it,” said Reams. “They are considering starting a manufacturing program similar to ours, and they wanted to come over and see what we do here at Bradford Area High School. We had a short student-led presentation followed by visits to our engineering space, machine technology shop and our manufacturing center.”
