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Arlington High School students hone their machining skills at inaugural summer boot camp

By Marketing and Communications Staff 

Southwest Tennessee Community College and Stryker Industries welcomed 12 students from Arlington High School to a new summer machining camp that took place inside the high school’s manufacturing labs.  

The unique partnership was the brainchild of the Secondary Supervisor of Arlington Community Schools Kim Douglas, who had been in talks with local workforce development industries and the College to provide work-based learning experiences to their students in the advanced manufacturing field. Southwest Workforce and Community Solutions Community Liaison, John Churchill, presented the idea of piloting an America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) machining boot camp at the high school with Southwest adjuncts teaching the classes. 

The ACE program became the first paid experience (40-hour boot camp) for Arlington High School students. Each ACE student earned a $500 stipend for their work in the program that ended on June 16, 2023. 

“I feel this opportunity allows students immediate hands-on experience with machining, providing them insight into the profession,” Douglass said. “This exposure truly can benefit any student potentially interested in these types of careers and help start creating a streamlined pathway for students to their careers. We look forward to continuing this boot camp as I saw the many benefits to our students.” 

Arlington High School Students celebrate the last day of their machining boot camp.
Arlington High School Students celebrate the last day of their machining boot camp.


Arlington High School student Mayira Sharif was one of 12 students out of 37 qualified applicants selected for the program. Sharif said attending the boot camp was a great investment of his time.

“I attended this boot camp because I knew that this program offered me training in a field I had never seen before,” Sharif said. “I know that I want to pursue computer science in college, but I didn't want to have tunnel vision with my education -- I wanted to give machining a chance. Honestly, the fact that it was paid intrigued me even more. I can proudly say that attending this program was one of the best decisions I made this summer.” 

Sharif will be attending the University of Memphis this fall as a computer science major. 

“I enjoyed how my instructors took every opportunity to enrich our learning experience. Since this was the first time this program was held, there were a couple of machining equipment issues, however, my instructors explained the problem-solving strategies they use to overcome such issues. I genuinely believe I've learned as much observing my instructors problem-solving techniques and strategies as I did in machining the parts.”

Click the video below to see Sharif demonstrating his metal creation. 

https://youtu.be/QpkyqhfrjlI