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Batavia students make history as NASA contractors

Posted at 7:27 AM, May 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-17 07:27:42-04

High school students at the Batavia and Technical Education Center are making history as NASA contractors, as part of their Metal Trades Program.

Students, along with their Precision Training Instructor, are making fixture caps that will be used to assemble handrails to assist astronauts while on the International Space Station. 

As part of the HUNCH Program, or High School Students United With NASA to Create Hardware, juniors and seniors will manufacture different parts of fixture caps over the course of six years. This unique program is only offered in 100 schools in the United States, this local collaboration is one of three in New York State.

NASA provides them with six different drawings, materials, equipment and mentoring. Experts will also teach them how to inspect and analyze the parts to meet NASA standards. 

This real-life exposure and hands-on training is one way to give students with an interest in manufacture ready for the working world. 

For more on this BOCES-run program and their NASA partnership, contact Precision Training Instructor, Tim Gleba at (585) 344 - 7711 ext. 2113.