Industrial Mechanics and Welding

Enzo Mantello

Hammers bang on steel, MIG welders pop and
crackle, sanding discs scrape and whirr. The scent of hot
metal is prevalent. These are the sounds and scents of the
Hartford Area Career and Technology Centers(HACTC)
Industrial Mechanics and Welding class.

At the HACTC, the opportunities to learn and
grow as either a student or an adult after high school
abound. The HACTC offers 14 programs ranging from a
Career and Technology Exploration program for incoming
high school sophomores, to an IMW (Industrial Mechanics
and Welding) program for both high school students and
adults.

The IMW class is taught by instructor Gary
Hutchins who is a Vietnam Veteran, and extremely
experienced mechanic in automobiles, welding, and even
carpentry. He has taught at the HACTC for ten years. I
just enjoy passing on my knowledge to the kids, says
Hutchins.

The IMW class is always overflowing with
projects. Currently, the biggest projects are an electric
powered M151 Jeep replica, a boiler that Hutchins will use
for heating his home, and a 1978 Mini 1000 restoration.

There are eleven students in the morning senior
class and thirteen students in the afternoon junior class
in IMW. Each IMW class starts out with solving a math
problem projected on the board that Mr. Hutchins created.
This question is occasionally followed up by a video from
a YouTube channel called Welding Tips and Tricks.

When finished, all the students make their way
into the IMW shop and look at their assignments, which
are written on a white board. Some are eager to work,
while others need a little motivation but each and every
student is very talented in what he does, and definitely
thrive when we all come together and work as a team.

This class and our teacher has really helped in
motivating me and inspiring me to pursue my goal to be
a mechanic, said Josh Spaulding, a senior at Windsor
High School, who plans to enter the field of being a diesel
mechanic.

Logan OBrien, a senior at Hartford High School,
started off using his skills as a welder early. OBrien is
a welder at Woodstock Soapstone Co., a company that
designs and makes wood and gas stoves. His job is working
in the sub-assembly process of building stoves. This class
has helped me in practicing and further making me a better
welder as well as making me realize when you have a job
that at the end of the day you can see the results of all the
hard work I complete as a student, said OBrien.

I am a senior at Woodstock Union High School
and attend the IMW morning class at the HACTC. I
have always enjoyed working with my hands and I enjoy
the IMW class because we do a lot more than just weld
here. Mr. Hutchins always has a project we can work on
so there is never a dull moment. Each project is not just
about welding either, my personal favorite to work on is
the 1978 Mini 1000.

The best part about this project is one day I could
be working on the Minis engine, enhancing my skills as
an automobile mechanic, while the next day I could be
bending and shaping new floor pans and spot welding on
new rocker panels, making me a better welder and auto
body mechanic. This kind of work keeps me on my toes,
constantly learning new skills each day and never getting
bored with doing one thing over and over again.

Like OBrien and Spaulding, I plan on taking
these skills and applying them to the real world after high
school in the automotive or welding field. Because of
HACTC, all three of us are going into the workforce with
experience.

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Women Can Do Conference!

My name is Sean Stebbins and I attend the Automotive
Technology class at the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center
(HACTC). In this class, we learn all about cars and trucks and how
to work on the mechanical side of them. I personally have learned
not only how to work on the cars but have gained a lot in personal
experiences that I have grown from. At this school, we not only focus
on working hard on the cars but also work on respect and we learn
how to work together to solve problems which is one of the biggest
reasons I like it here.

Working on these vehicles has taught me a lot about how each
car is different and why. I have also learned special techniques which
make certain jobs easier that are very simple but help a lot. I have
removed and replaced many parts off of the vehicles that we have here

Business Administration
Logan Smith

Design, Illustration and Media Arts

Wyat Sherman

When I first walked in the front doors
of the Hartford Area Career and Technology
Center (HACTC), I was greeted by happy,
smiling faces that were excited to teach. Not
only that, but their passion for their own
trade reflects in the students that pass by. I
am receiving individualized instruction from
a teacher who earnestly wants her students
to succeed. The staff listens to our feedback
and helps create the best environment for its
students.
My experiences at the HACTC have

been nothing but positive. As a student
enrolled in the Design, Illustration and Media
Arts (DIMA) program, I have learned that
opportunities for real life application are everpresent. I have gained an understanding of the

Automotive Technology
Sean Stebbins

and for every part there is a procedure to follow which can be a bit of
a challenge sometimes but we always manage to pull through with the
help of my teacher. I know that if I ever need help, my teacher Mr.
Bingham, will be there for me and he will do his best to point me in
the right direction so that I may learn.

In my Automotive Technology class, we emphasize the
need for respect and that is exactly how we treat one another. We as
classmates may disagree on things, but we all still manage to learn
from every experience because that is what the HACTC does. They
put us into real life situations and we get a taste of what we will need
to know and learn so that we can grow from that and become not only
better people but it will allow us to succeed in life. This school has
taught me more than I can say and for that I am truly thankful.

During my time at the Hartford Area Career and
Technology Center (HACTC), I have become a part of the Business
Administration class. The classes at the HACTC are usually a two
year program; however, I am starting the Business Administration
class as a senior. This class has helped me to get a feel of what I
want to do in life. The activities that we do in class have helped
students prepare themselves for when they get out of school and
find a job. We practice communication, computer applications,
personal finance, and from there determine what future occupation
we may want to hold.

The biggest project that we must complete as seniors is the
Career Research Report. This project is made up of many different
activities. We have taken personality quizzes, researched different
occupations, and participated in a computer simulation (a video
game about real life where you have to pay bills). The simulation
(sims) has helped kids learn how to manage time, money, health,
a job, and an education. Each level of the sims becomes more
advanced as you go, challenging you with more real life situations.
We even get to shadow an individual at their company as part of
our research. Picking a career is hard and not every student knows
what he or she wants to do for their occupation. But this class
helps narrow down your strengths and weaknesses in order to see
what occupation you would most likely enjoy.

What I love most about this program is that by the time
you leave your senior year, you can get up to nine college credits.
So, even though you are still in high school as a junior or senior,
you can receive college credits and prepare your journey towards
college. This college credit costs you a fraction of what it typically
would cost you.

I can always say I love going to school now. The kids are
amazing and there is never a dull moment. We work individually
but also do fun activities as a group. Everyone is so nice day to day.
Mrs. Trombly, our Business Administration Instructor, always has
a smile on her face. She greets you every morning and brightens
up your day. She is very understanding and is always fun to be
around. This program has made me love going to school and I
learn more everyday. I feel better prepared for college and my
future life involving myself in this great class.

goals within an assignment and the real life

deadlines they imply.

Last year, for a fourth quarter project,
we were asked to create a fifty page book.
This task seemed daunting at first, but through
planning and dedication I found it was a fun
and rewarding experience. Through DIMA,
I have been able to help my sending school
through live work, such as designing prom
tickets and decorations for the dance. I never
take this class for granted and am happy to
walk into class and learn new things every
day.

As part of the opportunities provided
through DIMA, I joined Future Business
Leaders of America (FBLA) last year and it
helped me achieve accomplishments that I had

not deemed possible at first. I participated in an

FBLA competitive event called Digital Design
and Promotion. This type of competition
required that I make an ad campaign for a
fictional company that was just starting to
branch out. I made a powerpoint presentation
for the company and won first place in the
state. As part of winning first place, I received
a scholarship towards college and more
importantly, an opportunity to compete at the
national level. I have gained job experience
through FBLA, which enabled me to hone in
on my future and give back to the community
through service projects.

Ultimately, through this class I have
gained invaluable assets that will help me to
succeed on the road ahead.