This week marks the start of the Production and Manufacturing Institute, which is open to high school juniors and seniors. The Institute is a three-week-intensive program where students experience the full production and manufacturing process, from designing, manufacturing, promoting, and selling a product. 

“In the four years we’ve been doing this, we have expanded from one location to this year we are in four regional high schools (East Valley High School, Newport High School, Cheney High School, and Riverside High School) and have 65 students participating,” Program Director Dr. Wade Larson said. 

This year the students are tasked with manufacturing a minimum of 15 birdhouses that they will later package and sell to be assembled upon purchase. Pay attention, Ikea.

Students not only get high school credit for completion but receive a stipend, tours of local manufacturing facilities, and meet with experts working in these fields to see if this is a career path they’d consider pursuing. 

“I’ve done engineering classes in the past, and I really liked them, and I wanted to see if this is something I’d want to pursue in the future. I thought this would be a great way to figure that out,” said Chloe Matteson, a senior from West Valley High School. 

Larson said of the students who participate, 80% want to pursue a career in manufacturing after completing. 

Check out this video from the Institute HERE