Lauren Aycock with Wish for Wash leads a brainstorming session with students at the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy. 

DALTON, Ga. — More than 120 students from the Calhoun College and Career Academy and the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy in Dalton gathered this week at the Dalton academy to connect with professionals in honor of National Manufacturing Day, which is today. 

“Our goal is to help manufacturing in the state connect with resources, compete and grow,” said John Morehouse, director of the state’s Center of Innovation for Manufacturing.

Students met with representatives from Phoenix Rescue, Robot League, Synapse Sumo and Wish for Wash, four Georgia-based startup companies.

“One of the key issues we face is workforce and how to develop the next generation,” Morehouse said. “Technicians and engineers are all some of the folks necessary to run a manufacturing company.”

After the representatives spoke to the students during an assembly, the students broke out into groups to solve problems and brainstorm solutions.

Lauren Aycock with Wish for Wash, a social impact organization that seeks to bring innovation to sanitation through culturally-specific research, design and education, led one of the sessions. Wish for Wash designed a module toilet system that is currently being used in Zambia in a pilot study.

“We don’t have a hand-washing station,” said Aycock, co-director of student engagement. “I’m having students brainstorm some ways they can design a station that would work.”

Gavin Hadley, a junior at Calhoun High School, and members of his team were busy designing a way to use rain water. 

“I like this exercise because it opens our minds to new concepts,” he said. 

 Aycock said students were also  focusing on rapidly making decisions.

“When you have to change contracts and get feedback, sometimes it may not be as positive as you want,” she said. “Lots of times you have to go back to the drawing board and draw out conceptual systems about how your system will work.”

Brittney Wilson, chief academic officer for Calhoun City Schools, said it was a great opportunity for students to hear success stories on how people created their own companies. 

“I love the idea that they are involved in problem-solving and get to work with companies,” she said. “I think it’s a win-win for the companies and students.”

Wilson said not only are students learning, but in return companies are getting ideas from students. 

“One thing I keep hearing the representatives say is how they failed a lot,” Wilson said. “That’s something we have to keep telling our kids, that failure is a part of the process, just keep going until we figure out what works.” 

David Moeller, CEO of the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy, said he’s excited to partner with Calhoun schools. 

“I think it’s a good opportunity for students to see the innovation process, challenges and experiences,” he said.  

Alex Hall, a junior at the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy, said he enjoyed the partnership.

“I found it very interesting, the exercises with companies was a great idea,” he said. “It helps us build character and be creative.” 

Morehouse said the goal of National Manufacturing Day is to promote awareness of some of the careers that students can get into and really show this is not an “old, dirty industry.”

“Changing the image that this is in reality a very advanced 21st century and we need the folks with those skills to fill those jobs,” he said.