TRUMBULL COUNTY Student brings business and KSU together for metal casting lab

The metal casting lab is in the technology building.
By JAYME RAMSON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
WARREN -- The persistence of one college student brought together a college and a business for a mutual partnership.
Kent State University Trumbull's Erin Armbasick, a senior, started pushing for a metal casting lab at the college last year. She was doing a co-op with Ajax TOCCO at the time.
After hearing her plea, Ajax TOCCO's Jerry Crawford decided to donate equipment to the college for a metal casting laboratory. The company designs and uses metal-burning furnaces, and now KSU Trumbull students can do the same.
"It's a lot better coming into class and being able to work hands-on than having someone tell you about it," Armbasick said. "I think this is a great thing as a student to have here."
Grand opening
Armbasick joined campus advisory committee members, faculty members and Ajax TOCCO employees in the lab for its grand opening ceremony last week.
The student's employer and Kent State faculty members were impressed with her dedication to the project.
"Erin pretty much saw this project through from start to finish, also working on calculations and drawings," said Ted Burke, the engineering manager at Ajax TOCCO.
Dr. Virginia Horvath, the dean of academic affairs for regional campuses was equally impressed.
"Erin's story represents the kind of student we work for here."
The benefits
The laboratory will provide KSU Trumbull students with an opportunity to work hands-on with a number of metals. Dr. David Allen, campus dean, sees many potential opportunities for the students in the program.
"It's a small lab, but it has a large significance. The significance is that it is one more opportunity for the campus to link effectively with business and industry in a key technology," Allen said.
One of Armbasick's professors, Rudy Wojtecki, will oversee the program. He expects the number of students enrolled in the program to start out small, then grow each year. There are about 600 students in the technology program now. Although training will become an important part of the curriculum, research will also be stressed.
Wojtecki emphasized the importance of partnerships among businesses and universities.
"We're really proud to be a part of this partnership involving mutual benefits. We're very thankful to have the facilities and the resources in this lab to enable us to do metal casting," he said.
"The end result is to give back to the community by producing graduates with skills that are relevant and useful to the industry."