In partnership with NextFlex and Boeing, Midlands Technical College recently implemented a pilot of the FlexFactor program at Westwood High School in Columbia. FlexFactor, the flagship education program created by NextFlex, is designed to make secondary school students aware of the tremendous career possibilities available in the field of Advanced Manufacturing. Boeing sponsored the program in South Carolina to help meet the need for skilled technology workers in manufacturing. Lindsay Leonard, Senior Director of National Strategy and Engagement at Boeing South Carolina said, “To achieve our goals, we need the ideas and energy that come from engaging with the workforce of tomorrow. Our partnership with NextFlex and Midlands Technical College to launch this innovative program is an investment in the community of South Carolina’s future manufacturers and aerospace workers. We are committed to offering experiences that help young people see their future in a STEM career and understand pathways to get there.”
The team at Midlands Technical College, which serves three large counties in South Carolina, is excited to implement this program in the service area to bring awareness to Advanced Manufacturing and skilled trades. This pilot program, the first ever in South Carolina and the on the east coast of the U.S., was conducted in Mr. James Roberts’ Entrepreneurship class at Westwood High School and it was wonderful to see young people engage with technology concepts and be energized by the opportunity to help solve real-world problems through the program’s conceptual design activities.