Tech Directions - March 2008 - (Page 17)

Technical Studies Lead to Dream Career By Gary Suraci gsuraci@mhric.org L IKE many young men, Ty pace of the work a little slow for his Kropp had no idea what he liking—too much time sitting at the wanted to do when he computer. So, whenever he got a graduated from high chance, Ty would head out to the school. But courses he shop and watch friends operate the computer-numerical control (CNC) took as a computer design/manufacmanufacturing equipment—lathes turing (CDM) technology student at the Ulster County Career and Technical Education Center in Port Ewen, NY, gave him valuDuring a visit to able skills that opened the Ulster BOCES, Ordoor to his dream job at Orange County Chopange County Choppers (OCC), pers machinist Ty a premier builder of motorKropp and his former cycles that is highlighted computer design/ weekly on the TLC television manufacturing techseries American Chopper. nology instructor, In his job at OCC, Ty puts Mark Harris, review a his skills to work daily in a program on one of fast-paced shop that builds the Haas machines at motorcycles for some of the the Career & Technimost recognized names in the cal Center. United States, including CocaCola, Microsoft, and even the U.S. military. I thought that technical and mills. That work was more educators might find Ty’s story hands-on and, as a result, more interesting—and illustrative of the appealing to Ty. potential value of high-quality tech“My teacher, Mr. [Mark] Harris, nical education. started to give me a few projects to do,” says Ty, “and I picked up on it quickly. Then we went into more How It All Started detailed work, such as writing proTy began attending the CDM grams by hand, and that’s where program at the Career & Technical that took off for me.” Center in 2004, when he was a junior Ty was hooked. “Making stuff has at Highland High School. He initially always been something I was intersigned up for architectural design ested in—being able to make whatcourses, having an interest in the ever I want, whether it’s a knife computer side of architecture and handle or wheel spacers for somedesigning houses. But Ty found the body’s car. I just really like that creative, hands-on aspect of design Gary Suraci is principal, Ulster and manufacturing.” County BOCES, Career & Technical And Ty also praises his instrucEducation Center, Port Ewen, NY. tor. “He is awesome. He kept the lessons balanced between teaching and the hands-on work. Plus, he would joke around and keep an overall good mood in the classroom, which made it very enjoyable to come to class.” Even today, Ty comes back to visit Harris and the Career & Technical Center. “It’s almost like a third home to me,” says Ty. “I enjoy seeing Mr. Harris and catching up. Every once in awhile, if I get stuck on something, he’ll give me advice.” The high point of Ty’s time at the tech center came during his senior year of high school when he earned an interview with the Orange County Choppers in Montgomery, NY, the company’s official location. Jim Quinn, OCC’s lead engineer, contacted Harris, looking for potential employees, and Ty was one of the students Harris recommended for an interview. A week after his interview, the www.techdirections.com CNC 17 Photos by Dorothy Wills-Raftery http://www.techdirections.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions - March 2008

Tech Directions - March 2008 Technically Speaking Contents Direct from Washington The News Report Technology’s Past Technology Today Mastering Computers HDTV—Understanding the New, Dealing with the Old Technical Studies Lead to Dream Career Fill and Fund Your CAD Classroom with These Exciting Strategies STEM Progress in Katrina’s Wake School Web Site of the Month Spring Spotlight More than Fun

Tech Directions - March 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.