Academics
Many more.
And they’re good-paying jobs: the national median salary is $61,590 per year.
“The industrial sector is as busy as I’ve ever seen it in my entire career,” said Rusty Mudgett with Enerfab based in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. “These are great jobs. Great salaries. We need qualified employees, and this is where we like to get them, here at Pitt State.”
Founded in 1901, Enerfab has become an industry leader in fabrication, construction, and maintenance services within the utility and heavy industrial sector.
Mudgett came to campus to sign Joshua Vanatta (Humboldt), a veteran of the U.S. Marines who enrolled at Pitt State two years ago.
“I’ll be heading to DeSoto, Kansas, to work on the new Panasonic battery plant as a project engineer,” Vanatta said.
At 5 million square feet and with a price tag of $4 billion, the project is the largest economic development project in the state's history. The facility will produce lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles around the world and create an estimated 4,000 jobs.
“I was blown out of the water when I got the offer,” Vanatta said. “I’ve had a great experience here and would definitely recommend this program. The company connections are unreal.”
Enerfab feels so strongly about Pitt State’s program that they serve on the Advisory Board and started scholarships to help get students to the finish line. Other companies on campus to sign graduating seniors raved about the program, too.
Clint Myers, instructor, said in the past eight months 76 companies have tried to recruit Pitt State graduates from the Electrical Technology program, now in its 75th year.
The program has produced 50 Journeymen out of the past three graduating classes, with 100 percent placement.
The hands-on, “learn by doing” program caps at 25 students per year, but has been accepting 30 the past two years because of demand.
“We’re typically full by New Year’s Day prior to classes beginning in the fall,” Myers said.
Two labs at Pitt State have undergone extensive remodeling, and having a small program means Myers and his colleague Ed Moore know every student by name, hometown, and where they’re headed after graduation.
Myers introduced each graduating senior as he signed as family members and friends looked on:
Drew Cummins said he was thrilled to sign with Faith Technologies headquartered in Wisconsin with a location in Olathe. He’ll be a traveling technician.
“I’ve had a great experience here, and having a job before I even finish my degree took a lot of weight off my shoulders,” he said.
Learn more:
The Electrical Technology program is part of Pitt State’s School of Construction.
