{"685207":{"#nid":"685207","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Advanced Manufacturing Takes Off in Georgia Classrooms","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESmart manufacturing, data-driven design, and artificial intelligence aren\u2019t just buzzwords \u2014 they are fields that are creating high-paying, high-tech careers across the country. In rural communities across Georgia, these advanced manufacturing roles are growing, but the talent pipeline isn\u2019t keeping pace.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s not just about creating jobs, it\u2019s about filling them,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/11182\u0022\u003ETom Kurfess\u003C\/a\u003E, Regents\u2019 Professor in mechanical engineering and executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI). \u201cTo do that, we need to show students how exciting and innovative manufacturing can be. Manufacturing has really changed over the past few years. Today, going from an idea to a physical part is much easier to do. It is fun and exciting to bring ideas to life and to actually hold the results in your hands.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI is working to\u0026nbsp;reignite student interest in the art and science of making\u0026nbsp;through its new K\u201312 initiative: the\u0026nbsp;Advanced Manufacturing Pathways (AMP) Program. Modeled after Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ceismc.gatech.edu\/rural-cs-initiative\u0022\u003ERural CS Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E, AMP\u0026nbsp;empowers schools with faculty expertise, cutting-edge equipment, and a hands-on curriculum\u0026nbsp;to give students early exposure to the tools, technologies, and creativity behind modern manufacturing while building a pipeline of future talent ready to thrive in high-tech careers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFunded by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.swgrc.org\/\u0022\u003ESouthwest Georgia Regional Commission\u003C\/a\u003E (SWGRC), AMP is kicking off in three school districts this fall \u2014 Decatur County,\u0026nbsp;Thomas County, and\u0026nbsp;the city of Thomasville\u0026nbsp; \u2014 with plans to expand to additional schools in the spring of 2026. The program will start by engaging more than 200 students through hands-on learning, virtual instruction, and in-person lab experiences led by Georgia Tech researchers and faculty.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHere in Southwest Georgia, we believe that opportunities like this are vital for integrated learning in schools and for growing our future workforce,\u201d says Beka Shiver, economic development and transportation planner for SWGRC. \u201cWorkforce development and K-12 integration are at the heart of our Southwest Georgia Ecosystem Building Project, and we are so pleased to be able to provide funding for this program.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe launch of the AMP Program is\u0026nbsp;centered around Design, Build, Race, a course putting a modern spin on the classic pinewood derby. Students will use digital design, 3D printing, and machining to build and race custom cars, while also learning how to collect and analyze performance data to improve their designs and predict outcomes. The course blends engineering with data science, sparking curiosity and showing students how modern manufacturing is powered by both technical skills and smart data.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis program delivers real-world industry experience to students while strengthening the talent pipeline that drives innovation, competitiveness, and resilience in advanced manufacturing\u201d, says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/21289\u0022\u003ESteven Ferguson\u003C\/a\u003E, interim director of operations at GTMI and one of the project\u2019s leaders. \u201cAfter more than 20 years of driving education and workforce development innovation, I\u2019m more energized than ever to help launch the AMP program to open doors for students and advance U.S. manufacturing leadership.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding the Blueprint\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore it evolved into the AMP Program, Design, Build, Race was a course developed by GTMI research engineer \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/kyle-saleeby\u0022\u003EKyle Saleeby\u003C\/a\u003E in 2023. Originating in GTMI\u2019s Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility (AMPF), the course was designed to introduce Morehouse and Georgia Tech students to the possibilities of modern manufacturing through digital design, 3D printing, machining, and competitive creativity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEven after the first week, it was powerful to watch students discover how exciting it is to design and manufacture a competition-ready car in a matter of hours,\u201d said Saleeby. \u201cThat\u2019s when I knew we were onto something special.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESaleeby teamed up with\u0026nbsp;Ferguson to transform the course into a broader initiative. The duo engaged colleagues from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/outreach\/stem-at-gtri\u0022\u003ESTEM@GTRI\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;secured funding from SWGRC to modify the curriculum and scale the course for a high school audience.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are thrilled that we have been able to take the lessons learned during the development of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ceismc.gatech.edu\/rural-cs-initiative\u0022\u003ERural Computer Science Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E and expand opportunities for students in Southwest Georgia,\u201d says Sean Mulvanity, a senior research associate in the Georgia Tech Research Institute. Mulvanity is one of the founders of the initiative and has been a key contributor to the AMP Program. \u201cWe hope this program can grow and expose students across the state to the field of advanced manufacturing.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough granted by the SWGRC, funds for the program were provided by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiaaim.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing\u003C\/a\u003E, a statewide initiative founded by GTMI and Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E to advance AI-driven manufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo bring AMP into classrooms,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/southernregional.edu\/\u0022\u003ESouthern Regional Technical College\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;helped set up labs and provide technical support, ensuring schools were ready to launch.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt all levels, the community has rallied around this program,\u201d says Saleeby. \u201cProviding students with a unique experience learning advanced manufacturing technologies will open countless career opportunities. I cannot wait to see where they go.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaunched this fall, Georgia Tech\u2019s Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Program works to spark interest in high-tech careers and strengthen Georgia\u2019s talent pipeline.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Launched this fall, Georgia Tech\u2019s Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Program works to spark interest in high-tech careers and strengthen Georgia\u2019s talent pipeline."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2025-09-23 18:32:30","changed_gmt":"2025-09-25 18:25:01","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-23T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-23T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678139":{"id":"678139","type":"image","title":"GT-Pinewood-Derby-Cars.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EStudents across Georgia are designing and 3D printing pinewood derby cars as part of a new hands-on advanced manufacturing initiative.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758811031","gmt_created":"2025-09-25 14:37:11","changed":"1758811031","gmt_changed":"2025-09-25 14:37:11","alt":"Students across Georgia are designing and 3D printing pinewood derby cars as part of a new hands-on advanced manufacturing initiative.","file":{"fid":"262126","name":"GT-Pinewood-Derby-Cars.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/25\/GT-Pinewood-Derby-Cars.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/25\/GT-Pinewood-Derby-Cars.png","mime":"image\/png","size":8283257,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/25\/GT-Pinewood-Derby-Cars.png?itok=5NM2T1H7"}},"678140":{"id":"678140","type":"image","title":"Saleeby-setting-up-equipment.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EKyle Saleeby (left) works side-by-side with a teacher to set up precision milling equipment, a key part of the AMP Program\u2019s hands-on curriculum.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758811233","gmt_created":"2025-09-25 14:40:33","changed":"1758811233","gmt_changed":"2025-09-25 14:40:33","alt":"Kyle Saleeby (left) works side-by-side with a teacher to set up precision milling equipment, a key part of the AMP Program\u2019s hands-on curriculum.","file":{"fid":"262127","name":"Saleeby-setting-up-equipment.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/25\/Saleeby-setting-up-equipment.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/25\/Saleeby-setting-up-equipment.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":221625,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/25\/Saleeby-setting-up-equipment.jpeg?itok=38NIH9i0"}},"678141":{"id":"678141","type":"image","title":"Steven-Ferguson.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWith more than two decades of workforce development experience, Steven Ferguson is helping launch a new era of hands-on learning through the AMP Program.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758811394","gmt_created":"2025-09-25 14:43:14","changed":"1758811394","gmt_changed":"2025-09-25 14:43:14","alt":"With more than two decades of workforce development experience, Steven Ferguson is helping launch a new era of hands-on learning through the AMP Program.","file":{"fid":"262128","name":"Steven-Ferguson.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/25\/Steven-Ferguson.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/25\/Steven-Ferguson.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2690472,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/25\/Steven-Ferguson.jpeg?itok=87CORHJc"}}},"media_ids":["678139","678140","678141"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/2025\/09\/16\/georgia-tech-taps-military-talent-boost-manufacturing-workforce","title":"Georgia Tech Taps Military Talent to Boost Manufacturing Workforce"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing-workforce-future","title":"Manufacturing the Workforce of the Future"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/impact\/workforce\/michael-trigger","title":"How a Veteran Gained Invaluable Skills in AI Manufacturing at Georgia Tech"}],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186857","name":"go-gtmi"},{"id":"193651","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institiute"},{"id":"415","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}