Butler Community College Celebrates Hometown Manufacturers

Butler Community College partnered with area chamber of commerce’s and local businesses to teach high school students about the manufacturing employment opportunities available in Butler County. More than 140 Butler County high school students took a tour of area manufacturing plants, met with local managers, and heard how crucial manufacturing is to our economy.

“There are good job opportunities in manufacturing,” said Susie Carson, the CEO of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce. “According to the National Association of Manufacturers, manufacturers contribute over $2 trillion to the U.S. economy every year.”

Carson told the students that manufacturing day was originally started in 2012 to help change the public’s perception of the manufacturing industry. Students from Circle, El Dorado and Flint Hills high schools learned that a globally-known balloon manufacturer has its headquarters in El Dorado, shipping containers that are made to transport products around the world are manufactured in Augusta, and a factory in Andover is manufacturing eight billion gallons of paint annually. Many of these manufacturers are looking for workers.

Mel Whiteside, the dean of STEM at Butler said that the goal of the event was to expand the students’ horizons.  

“It opened my eyes to all the different industries we have in El Dorado,” said Circle High School student, Michaela Schrader, 15. “I had no idea.”

Sen. Bruce Givens (R-El Dorado) spent the morning with students.

 “I challenged the students to be lifelong learners,” Givens said. “Working out and reaching out in partnership is what we need to do.”

Butler’s partners for this event include the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce, El Dorado Inc., Augusta Chamber of Commerce, Butler County, Andover Chamber of Commerce and BETA (Business Education & Training Analysis).