Press Release

Lincoln Tech and NASA “HUNCH” Kick Off Partnership to Produce Components for the International Space Station

By SpaceRef Editor
February 18, 2016
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Students at Lincoln Tech in Mahwah now have the chance to take their hands-on career training to new heights. On February 17th the school kicked off their participation in NASA’s “HUNCH” program with a special event inaugurating Lincoln Tech as a partner in building hardware components for the International Space Station (ISS).

HUNCH – High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware – offers exciting real-world experience to students, while helping NASA replenish critical supplies needed on the ISS. NASA provides materials and oversees production, and Lincoln Tech instructors will deliver the hands-on curriculum to high school graduates now training for manufacturing careers. Lincoln Tech’s selection as a HUNCH partner marks the first time NASA has worked with a postsecondary career training school.

“This is an amazing opportunity for our students and for our school,” said Scott Shaw, CEO of Lincoln Tech. “For our students to know that the work they complete at our campus will soon find its way into space, and to the International Space Station, should energize and excite them about the career path they’ve chosen. We’re honored to have been selected by NASA for such a unique, impactful opportunity.”

On board the International Space Station, scientific experiments conducted by NASA and other organizations from around the world are housed in specially-designed storage lockers. The pieces that hold those lockers together – studs, nuts and butterfly bolts – are manufactured on specialized CNC (Computer Numerical Control) equipment. This spring Lincoln Tech will begin training future machinists on this 21st century manufacturing equipment, and several of the students will have the opportunity to take part in the NASA project.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Lincoln Tech to the HUNCH team,” said Dr. Florence Gold, NASA HUNCH Implementation Project Manager. “We are all part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education) Triangle that brings together academia, industry and government to reach for the stars in an inspiring partnership.”

“NASA is very confident in all of you,” she then told the students.

In addition to working hands-on to manufacture the specified parts, students will also learn how to document their work according to NASA specifications. During their participation in the HUNCH program, students are considered to be official NASA HUNCH contractors. Gold, a former HUNCH instructor, was joined by Lincoln Tech students, faculty and staff at the launch event.

Executives from Haas Automation, Inc. – a Lincoln Tech partner and the supplier of the Mahwah campus’ CNC equipment – were also in attendance. “This could not be happening today without our partners at Haas,” said Rob Paganini, President of the Mahwah campus.

About Lincoln Educational Services Corporation

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation is a leading provider of diversified career-oriented post-secondary education. Lincoln offers recent high school graduates and working adults career-oriented programs in five principal areas of study: automotive technology, health sciences, skilled trades, business and information technology, and hospitality services. Lincoln has provided the workforce with skilled technicians since its inception in 1946.

Lincoln currently operates 30 campuses in 15 states under four brands: Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences, and Lincoln College of New England. Lincoln also operates Lincoln Culinary Institutes in the states of Connecticut, Maryland and Florida.

For more information, go to lincolntech.edu.

Contact Information:

Peter Tahinos
(973) 736-9340×49233
Ptahinos@lincolntech.edu

SpaceRef staff editor.