Students from Prairie du Chien High School gathered at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College for the Future Manufacturers Workshop
On Friday, October 30, more than 50 sophomores from Prairie du Chien High School gathered at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College for the Future Manufacturers Workshop. Hosted by SWAG Manufacturers (Southwest Wisconsin Alliance for Growth), the interactive event provided students with a comprehensive, hands-on introduction to the wide variety of career opportunities available in modern manufacturing.
The workshop aimed to demonstrate how core principles such as teamwork, communication, quality control, and efficiency drive successful industrial operations. Jason Knapp, a SWAG board member and plant engineering manager at 3M, highlighted that exposing students to diverse roles—spanning production, quality assurance, engineering, and human resources—helps them appreciate how individual contributions unite to deliver a quality final product.
A central feature of the workshop was a hands-on assembly simulation where students worked in teams to build small boats in organized work cells. Participants performed specific assembly steps, conducted quality inspections, and refined their procedures over multiple rounds to boost efficiency. Sophomore Declan Campbell noted that the exercise underscored the importance of team collaboration and role clarity under chaotic conditions, while Heather Burkholder of Southwest Tech shared that friendly competition added excitement to mastering correct manufacturing processes.
Todd Coppernoll oversees local news for WRCO and WRCE radio in Richland Center. Having served Richland Center as Mayor for three terms, Todd brings a unique perspective, and a familiar voice to the news. The focus is local, and so is the reporter.
Adam Hess has been involved in radio broadcasting since 1990, with many of those years spent on the air at WRCO FM in Richland Center. Currently, Adam hosts the Weekend Wake-up and Prime Mover Saturdays on WRCO FM, jumps in and helps out with news duties, handles Social Media duties for WRCO and WRCE, and is the Director of Technology at a Southwest Wisconsin School District. Reach him at adam.hess@civicmedia.us.