Where careers are made

With a red helmet on his head and a digital welding torch in hand, Xavier McGee smiled after he earned a score of about 80 percent from “welding” a piece of steel.

The Redlands East Valley High School junior got a taste of the profession on a welding simulator at the Chaffey College Industrial Technical Learning Center in Fontana on Oct. 4. Despite his skill with the torch, he says he may have his eye on another field after touring the site.

“They’ve been talking to me about aeronautics,” he said. “They told me that you can build an aircraft from scratch. That’s pretty cool.”

He was one of about 400 students from around the Southland who toured the InTech Center during National Manufacturing Day. The event gives students a taste of various manufacturing industry jobs such as industrial maintenance and robotics technicians, machinists, welders and more.

Students played on welding simulators, watched 3D printers and robotic arms in action and learned about the potential salaries they could earn from manufacturing jobs.

Students who would like to learn more about the InTech Center can sign up to attend an information session by visiting the center’s website at www.intechcenter.org. The center, located at 9400 Cherry Ave., is also hosting an open house from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 15.

– Contributed by Chaffey College