Aerospace engineering. 

That’s what your average high school student is up to at Quitman ISD.

As of now, QISD students in David Cross’ aerospace engineering class are already able to design a program, code it into machines, implement it and come up with a product.

But with the school’s recent $350,000 grant and subsequent purchase of FANUC robot arms and new mill and lathe machines, students will be able to enter into a whole new level of engineering.

With the new robot arms, which Cross says are exact but miniature duplicates of industrial robots, students will be able to “do anything from…moving and transporting large objects…to fine motor skill stuff like making circuit boards.”

With the new machinery, students who had already been able to cut materials with a mill or lathe will now be able to simulate the exact cuts before they ever begin, which will help to ensure aerospace engineering-level precision.

In short, says Cross, “This will be a manufacturing side of our engineering program,” where students “can go from prototyping to (actual) manufacturing” of their ideas. Interested students can also now finish their high school education at QISD with actual, marketable certifications in this high-tech engineering. Seventy students are already signed up to participate with the new machines.

“I hope it’s gonna be a grand slam; I really do,” said Cross with a smile. “I’m looking forward to a pretty exciting year.”

The grant is the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant from the Texas Workforce Commission.