Post by title1parent on Aug 2, 2011 5:49:59 GMT -5
Academic Spotlight: Interns excel at Packer Engineering
By Jane Donahue
For the Sun
Last Modified: Jul 31, 2011 02:47AM
For the past six weeks, six high-schoolers took part in Students in Technology and Engineering at Packer, an internship program funded by Naperville-based Packer Engineering.
Today, Benjamin Thomas, Andrew Kolak, Brittany Robinson, Ellen Shin, Amit Soni and Grace Deetjen will see their summer labor in action during the children’s tractor “Pedal Pull” competition at the DuPage County Fair.
“This internship is offered by Packer Engineering to teach science concepts using hands-on, applications-based learning, with emphasis placed on engineering,” said Nick DiGiovanni, Naperville North teacher and one of the STEP coordinators. “There is no other program like it anywhere: kids love the program and learn a lot.”
A total of 14 students participated in the summer internship, with Thomas, Kolak, Robinson, Shin, Soni and Deetjen working specifically on a pedal-pull sled for the Wheatland Plowing Match Association.
The project, led by Packer technologist Tom Kuhn and engineer Nicole Schimpf, resulted in a fully-functioning children’s pedal-pull sled that was donated to the nonprofit organization. The Wheatland Plowing Match Association’s goal is to “preserve the farming-related historical information of the Naperville and Wheatland area.”
Kuhn said he has worked with many students during his 27-year career at Packer, but this group of teens was unique.
“I have never seen a group of young adults work so hard and learn so much in such a short time,” Kuhn said. “From an idea, to a plan, to production with a deadline, this was truly a great bunch (of kids). I stepped back and let them run with it, and more days than not, they were working late to get things done.”
Benjamin Thomas, a Metea Valley senior, said the internship experience “far exceeded” his expectations, and introduced him “to the world of engineering in both a scientific and practical sense.”
“The tractor sled project really opened my eyes to the design and fabrication process behind something that looks so simple,” said Thomas, 17. “Our team initially went in thinking we just needed to throw a few pieces of steel together, and we would be done within a week. Five weeks later, we truly understood the intense attention to detail that goes behind it.”
Grace Deetjen, a senior at Naperville North, said under Kuhn’s leadership, the team of six worked to successfully complete the pedal-pull sled within their deadline.
“Tom Kuhn taught us how to use every machine in the shop, the art of designing and measuring, and most importantly, how to make spectacular sound effects,” the teen said. “My favorite part was the pride in seeing it completed.
“The Wheatland Plowing Match Association came to see a demonstration, and everyone was impressed.”
Deetjen said the Packer internship left her feeling more prepared for both college and a future career.
“I am now closer to understanding what it must be like to have a (real) job, with the daily hours,” said Deetjen, 16. “Although the work was often hard, it was not at any time boring.”
The children’s “Pedal Pull” competition will begin at 1 p.m. today at the DuPage County Fair. The teens plan to be there to see their work in action.
By Jane Donahue
For the Sun
Last Modified: Jul 31, 2011 02:47AM
For the past six weeks, six high-schoolers took part in Students in Technology and Engineering at Packer, an internship program funded by Naperville-based Packer Engineering.
Today, Benjamin Thomas, Andrew Kolak, Brittany Robinson, Ellen Shin, Amit Soni and Grace Deetjen will see their summer labor in action during the children’s tractor “Pedal Pull” competition at the DuPage County Fair.
“This internship is offered by Packer Engineering to teach science concepts using hands-on, applications-based learning, with emphasis placed on engineering,” said Nick DiGiovanni, Naperville North teacher and one of the STEP coordinators. “There is no other program like it anywhere: kids love the program and learn a lot.”
A total of 14 students participated in the summer internship, with Thomas, Kolak, Robinson, Shin, Soni and Deetjen working specifically on a pedal-pull sled for the Wheatland Plowing Match Association.
The project, led by Packer technologist Tom Kuhn and engineer Nicole Schimpf, resulted in a fully-functioning children’s pedal-pull sled that was donated to the nonprofit organization. The Wheatland Plowing Match Association’s goal is to “preserve the farming-related historical information of the Naperville and Wheatland area.”
Kuhn said he has worked with many students during his 27-year career at Packer, but this group of teens was unique.
“I have never seen a group of young adults work so hard and learn so much in such a short time,” Kuhn said. “From an idea, to a plan, to production with a deadline, this was truly a great bunch (of kids). I stepped back and let them run with it, and more days than not, they were working late to get things done.”
Benjamin Thomas, a Metea Valley senior, said the internship experience “far exceeded” his expectations, and introduced him “to the world of engineering in both a scientific and practical sense.”
“The tractor sled project really opened my eyes to the design and fabrication process behind something that looks so simple,” said Thomas, 17. “Our team initially went in thinking we just needed to throw a few pieces of steel together, and we would be done within a week. Five weeks later, we truly understood the intense attention to detail that goes behind it.”
Grace Deetjen, a senior at Naperville North, said under Kuhn’s leadership, the team of six worked to successfully complete the pedal-pull sled within their deadline.
“Tom Kuhn taught us how to use every machine in the shop, the art of designing and measuring, and most importantly, how to make spectacular sound effects,” the teen said. “My favorite part was the pride in seeing it completed.
“The Wheatland Plowing Match Association came to see a demonstration, and everyone was impressed.”
Deetjen said the Packer internship left her feeling more prepared for both college and a future career.
“I am now closer to understanding what it must be like to have a (real) job, with the daily hours,” said Deetjen, 16. “Although the work was often hard, it was not at any time boring.”
The children’s “Pedal Pull” competition will begin at 1 p.m. today at the DuPage County Fair. The teens plan to be there to see their work in action.