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Lake Area Technical College’s Robotics/Electronics Program Earns Top Spot at ATEA National Conference

Posted on: April 17, 2019   |   Category: News
Atea Award

April 17, 2019

For immediate release.

WATERTOWN, SD – The American Technical Education Association (ATEA) named Lake Area Technical Collegenical College’s Robotics/Electronic Systems Technology programs the 2019 ATEA Outstanding Technical Program at its 56th annual National Conference on Technical Education in Indianapolis, Indiana, earlier this month. The award is based on criteria including enrollment trends, career advancement and opportunities, program advisory committee involvement, curriculum and accreditation, faculty and credentials, program awards, involvement in community service/service learning activities, and organizational activity. Accepting the award at the conference were Brooks Jacobsen, LATI Robotics/Electronic Systems Technology department supervisor, and instructors Tim Moes, Bob Poor, and Mathew Weinzirl.

“In addition to our high graduation, placement, and retention rates, we are very proud to be the only two-year, post-secondary program in the nation to be provided COBOT (collaborative robots) and Autonomous Vehicle technology training by the National College of Standards and Technology,” Jacobsen said. “The high level of hands-on education and exposure to advanced technology our students receive provides outstanding job opportunities in the robotics and electronics fields after graduation.”

The program has a 100 percent job placement rate and an articulation agreement with South Dakota State University that allows students seamless transfer into a Bachelor of Science degree program in Electronics Engineering Technology or Manufacturing Engineering Technology. The program also has a partnership with South Dakota Manufacturing & Technology Solutions that has allowed it to obtain advanced, high tech equipment. Graduates work in vast sectors including transportation, agriculture, mining, space exploration, weaponry, healthcare, laboratory research, and the mass production of consumer and industrial goods. Lake Area Technical College Electronics/Robotics graduates at entry level are averaging $26.88 an hour, according to the latest placement report of 2018 graduates.

For more information, please visit https://www.ateaonline.org/ATEA-Award-Winners-2019.

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Photo cutline: Accepting the 2019 ATEA Outstanding Technical Program award were (left-right): Brooks Jacobsen, program supervisor and instructor; Tim Moes, instructor; Mathew Weinzirl, instructor; Bob Poor, instructor; and Dr. Bryan Albrecht, ATEA Board of Trustees President.