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Mechatronic Systems Technician Academy Celebrates First Graduating Class Aug. 15

OSHTEMO (WWJ) -- The six students in the Mechatronic Systems Technician Academy at Kalamazoo Valley Community College are graduating at 9 a.m. on Aug. 15 at The Groves Center.

The graduates are Robert Cole of Portage, Robert Klomparens of Kalamazoo, Robert Lacaba of Portage, John Singleton of Sturgis, Adam Warner of Portage and Keith Wenger of Kalamazoo.

As students of the Groves Campus career academy programs, they are benefitting from the winning strategy of aligning curriculum with industry specified skills requirements.

"Learning by doing and earning credentials by demonstrating you can perform the work is at the heart of the program," said Cindy Buckley, Executive Director of Training for Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Applications are now being accepted for seats in the next Mechatronic Systems Technician Academy which is set to begin on Jan. 13, 2014. A passion for working with your hands and experience in a mechanical or electrical field of work are among the admission requirements, Buckley said.

"This course provides a unique approach to learning," said Buckley. "Each segment of classroom instruction is followed up by hands on, lab based practice. Instructors are experienced, subject matter experts who can create learning paths for students to become proficient and able to demonstrate exactly what they can do. Real world tools, components, machinery and processes are used from day one. Graduates are capable of doing work that employers need done. They've proven it by doing it."

These highly skilled technicians will have mastered the competencies needed to work on all types of advanced machinery and combined systems which include electrical devices, control systems, mechanical equipment and fluid power systems.

The academy is one of several training programs housed at Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Groves Center. For more information or to apply call 269.353.1286, email careeracademies@kvcc.edu or go to http://www.kvccgrovescenter.com/career/msta/.

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