WHS students learn how to build electric guitars

Fox Valley Technical College received a $5,000 AT&T Innovation Award to support Fab Lab summer camp at Waupaca High School this summer.

Fab Lab teaches high school students about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts by designing and building electric guitars.

“Our Fab Lab program combines advanced manufacturing technology concepts with hands-on learning to bring students’ ideas to reality,” said Dale Walker, director of business and industry services at FVTC.

Students in Fab Lab will learn about manufacturing principles and techniques through the process of designing and building an electric guitar.

Students will also discover the processes that go into creating a consumer product and walk away from the class with a solid body electric guitar that they designed and built themselves. Along the way, students also learn about STEM concepts.

“AT&T is committed to helping advance the education of our young people, particularly in the critical fields of science, technology, engineering and math,” said Scott T. VanderSanden, president of AT&T Wisconsin. “We are proud to support FVTC’s Fab Lab and help student receive the STEM education they need to be prepared for careers in the 21st century.”

FVTC’s Fab Lab works with area schools to engage students with creative projects that use manufacturing and technology skills, engineering tools and independent thinking.

“The Fab Lab is a unique learning center that not only encourages student exploration and imagination, but also exposes students to the exciting possibilities of careers in STEM fields,” said state Sen. Luther Olsen.