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Students get insight into Ellwood location

Times Observer photo by Heather Cathcart-Norris Andrew Murphy, Human Resource Manager of Ellwood National Forge, gives a safety briefing to a group of students touring the manufacturing facilities in Irvine.

Manufacturing Week is celebrated nationally each year on the first Friday in October. It is the industry’s biggest opportunity to educate and inspire the next generation and promote the many careers in manufacturing.

Ellwood invited area high school students to explore the opportunities at each of the three facilities, Ellwood National Forge, Crankshaft and Steel, available at the Irvine complex.

Jillian Steffan, human resource manager for Ellwood National Crankshaft, organized the Irvine complex’s first Manufacturing Day on campus. “We have a strong need to attract and retain employees at Ellwood; we also have opportunities for training and career growth,” she said. “In the Crankshaft facility, we have three generations from a family who are employed, which speaks to the ability to create a career.”

Teachers and students came away impressed.

Brock Jaquith, who teaches building maintenance at Corry Career/Tech, said, “It was a great opportunity for the students to see what they do here. I have never been on a tour of the facility, and it was interesting. The kids were engaged and asking questions.”

Photo provided by Ellwood Students arrive at the Irvine Ellwood Complex for Manufacturing Day.

Zerick Jackman, an 11th-grade marketing student from Youngsville, said, “It was neat to learn what they do here; in marketing, you have to know what a business is or does to market it, so that was interesting.”

Laura Hyde, Ellwood National Steel’s human resource manager, stressed that “there is diversity in the manufacturing field, including IT, accounting, engineering, and marketing.”

With a declining population, Ellwood has opportunities for young people who may not be aware of all the possibilities at the Irvine complex. “There are opportunities here for people whether they go to college or not. You can have a meaningful, long-term career,” Hyde said.

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