Tech Center News

2891 - 116th Avenue
Allegan, MI 49010
269-512-7800

Four EMS students with a wheeled stretcher that is holding jars of peanut butter

Emergency Medical Services

Instructor, Jodie McLean. The EMS class participates in the Allegan County Food Pantry’s ‘Annual Peanut Butter Drive’ for the program’s community service project. The class has set a school goal of collecting 1000 jars. One week in and the Engineering class brought in 170 jars! Any student that brings in 5 jars or donates $10 will be entered into a weekly raffle held by EMS for a gift card. The drive runs through the month of February.

Samuel Balder, student, sitting at computer

Samuel Bacon and the FANUC robotic arm

Engineering, Electronics, & Robotics

Instructor, Dr. Dale Quattrin. Juniors who meet qualifications can return to EE&R for a second year as a Project-Based Learning student, digging deeper into the subject. Sam Bacon (PHS) and Sam Balder (FHS) are returning seniors who have been working with the FANUC robotic arm, its attachments, and associated software. Sam Bacon directly programmed the robot to run and stop the conveyor belt based on sensor readings, with the robot arm picking up and placing an object. Sam Balder has programmed the same series of robot and conveyor steps in a digital environment.

Welding student welding bike rake that has a movie projector theme

Welding Technology

Instructor, Jerry Funk. The Welding students are starting one of their community service projects which is fabricating eight bicycle racks for the city of Allegan. Each design will have a theme and will be located outside of the business it represents. All eight racks were designed by our Engineering, Electronics, and Robotics students. This project was brought to us from Joel Dye, Allegan City Manager. When this one is finished, it will be placed in front of the Regent Theater.

A snowman made out of two boxes with a basket of winter items to "dress" the snowman

Teacher Education

Instructor, Jen Fuller. Students have been working on planning, preparing and implementing a lesson plan in their assigned classroom. For this lesson, students talk to the lead teacher, find out what they are teaching, plan the lesson and then teach it on an assigned day. After the lesson is taught, students are given constructive criticism from the lead teacher on ways to improve next time. Students will be teaching three lessons in various classrooms by the end of the year.

The student-build house with a white pickup truck out front. House is not roofed or sided.

Building Trades 2 - the House

Instructor, Andy Findling. Students continue to make good progress on the student-build house. They have been learning about different types of windows and have installed all of the windows in the house. They have also installed the roofing underlayment and the roof ice and water shield. Another area of learning, which is timely due to the season, is about weather and air barriers and how they function.

Photo of AM or PM class inside wearing their uniform of polo shirt and kakhi pants

Criminal Justice

Instructor, Bill Baker. We are months into Trimester 2 and the students have studied the Court/Corrections segment of Criminal Justice and the process of the legal system after arrest. The students will participate in several mock trials that are held in the classroom. The students step into the roles of both defense and prosecuting attornies, judges, and members of the jury.

Photo of AM or PM class standing outside in their uniform of polo shirt and kakhi pants

Beginning in the third trimester, we will begin studying forensics and criminology. Students will work in teams to solve a murder mystery in which numerous staff members are the “suspects.” They will have to use their newly learned forensic skills to apprehend the criminal and bring them to justice.