The Manhattan Area Technical College has unveiled its new Electrical Learning Lab, a state-of-the-art facility designed to provide hands-on training for its electrical technology program students. The lab, built in collaboration with Schultz Construction and Mead Lumber, is a two-story structure that simulates a real-world setting for students to practice their skills.
The new facility is a significant upgrade from traditional electrical classrooms, where students typically work on a single wall panel. Instead, the lab allows students to train throughout an entire building, wiring across multiple floors, and applying classroom lessons and electrical codes in a real-world setting.
"This is a game-changer for our students," said David Umanzor, Manhattan Tech's director of workforce innovation and partnerships. "In a lot of electrical programs, they have smaller units, very controlled areas. But our students can walk away with confidence, knowing that they can apply what they've learned in a real-world setting."
The lab is designed to provide a more realistic training environment for students, allowing them to develop the skills they need to succeed in the workforce. With the demand for skilled trade workers continuing to rise across the region, the new facility is expected to help fill the gap.
According to Manhattan Tech President and CEO James Genandt, the program has seen strong interest, with enrollment filling within three days of opening. The program is designed to prepare learners to earn electrician credentials and begin working with employers while gaining experience in the field.
For students like Jadiah Eustaquio, the program was a natural fit. "I have a family member who's actually an electrician, and after being with them or being around them a lot and helping them with like certain stuff on the side, I kind of just grew like a liking for it," Eustaquio said.
The new facility is expected to provide students with the opportunity to hone their skills in a setting that more closely resembles the buildings they may encounter on the job. "I think it's just going to provide us the opportunity to be able to hone those skills," said program student Blake Audiss.
The Manhattan Tech Electrical Technology program is designed to prepare learners to earn electrician credentials and begin working with employers while gaining experience in the field. With the new facility, students will have the opportunity to practice their skills in a real-world setting, preparing them for success in the workforce.
Written by: Jony Spark | The Citizen Edition
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