OREM, Utah — Utah Valley University (UVU) is partnering with Spring Canyon Middle School in Nebo School District and the Utah STEM Action Center to introduce middle school students to manufacturing careers and educational pathways through a new Manufacturing Pathways Pilot.
Spring Canyon Middle School recently received the prestigious designation of being a Utah STEM school. Principal Alison Hansen invited the UVU Technology Management Mechatronics Engineering Technology Department to partner with Spring Canyon STEM faculty.
In October, approximately 600 Spring Canyon Middle School students were introduced to manufacturing careers through a pilot, led by UVU faculty member Dr. Susan Thackeray as part of her sabbatical. Students participated in classroom lessons that explored eight career areas, including engineering, manufacturing, graphic design and marketing, materials science, business, quality testing, safety, and project management.
Dr. Thackeray reported that the partnership is “designed to expand students’ understanding of numerous manufacturing careers beyond working directly with machines and demonstrate how a range of interests and skills can connect to the industry workforce through degrees in higher education.
Selected students visited UVU’s Manufacturing Learning Factory, where they participated in hands-on manufacturing activities and explored how different skills and careers contribute to taking a product from idea to production. These students were tasked with bringing what they learned at the Manufacturing Learning Factory back to their classmates, extending the hands-on experience to the broader group participating in the pilot.
Justin Zsiros, the lead faculty member of UVU’s Learning Factory, explained that students will learn how to manufacture skis in UVU’s Learning Factory. The skis are custom-made, quality-built products that are a fantastic connection to Utah’s beautiful outdoors and recreation industry. Made right here in our own backyard at UVU, the skis are a valuable way to showcase manufacturing, composites and materials, design, supply chain, business and operations management, safety, quality, and more.
The Manufacturing Pathways Pilot is a partnership between Utah Valley University, Nebo School District, and the Utah STEM Action Center.
For additional information, please visit https://www.uvu.edu/tm/.
About Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University believes in the power and potential of every student. Our work is guided by a commitment to exceptional care, exceptional accountability, and exceptional results. We provide a high-quality education that is both affordable and accessible. From certificates to master’s degrees, UVU offers flexible, relevant programs grounded in hands-on learning and real-world experiences, ensuring that students graduate with career-ready skills and are ready to receive a strong return on investment. As an open-enrollment university, we invite students to come as they are, and they leave prepared to make an immediate impact in their careers and communities.
