The Community Education Center’s DISCOVER Partnership, in collaboration with St. Marys Area Middle School (SMAMS) and local manufacturers, offered their Intro to Manufacturing Program for 7th-grade students. The program is designed to introduce students to manufacturing careers and processes, educating and inspiring the next generation while strengthening the future of our local manufacturing industry.

The program includes a pre-tour classroom lesson, where students learn about the manufacturing process, as well as participate in a Cube Factory activity, acting as their own manufacturers on an assembly line. Following this, students have the opportunity for an in-person tour of local manufacturing facilities.

On February 23, 2026, SMAMS students toured one of five local manufacturers in St. Marys. The Community Education Center would like to thank the participating companies: Dauch St. Marys, Contact Technologies Inc., Amphenol Advanced Sensors, Keystone Powdered Metal Company, and Metco Industries Inc.

Companies interested in participating in next year’s Intro to Manufacturing Tours can contact Courtney Rieger at courtney@communityedcenter.com or call (814) 781-3437.