A First Step Into Manufacturing
Elijah Hounshel and Stacy Lewis-Lee walked into the same classroom for the ACE Machining Bootcamp at Cape Fear Community College, but they came from very different places.
Elijah is a recent high school graduate. Stacy spent more than 15 years working in healthcare and decided it was time to change direction. The same short-term program is giving both of them what they need right now.
Elijah Hounshel
Elijah graduated from high school with many interests and no desire to rush into a long-term decision.
“You graduate high school, you’re not sure what you want to do. There are so many things that I want to do, but I don’t really want to commit to any one of them yet.”
Elijah’s father works at GE, so manufacturing was not unfamiliar, but Elijah did not want to jump straight into the career without knowing if it was the right fit.
“I don’t want to do another four years of school immediately following the last 12,” Elijah said. “Why waste your money on classes if you don’t know what you want to do yet?”
The ACE Machining Bootcamp offered a way to try something real, hands-on, and practical without a long commitment. What drew Elijah in was the chance to make things.
“I’ve been interested in making things, and metal’s one of the coolest things to make things out of.”
What surprised Elijah most was how approachable the work felt once the class got started.
“I was surprised by how difficult it is in concept, but how much easier it is than those complicated concepts make it out to be.”
For now, the bootcamp is a way to explore. Elijah may continue with the program or try something else in another program. The point is that programs like this give people options.
Stacy Lewis-Lee
For Stacy Lewis-Lee, the decision to enroll was about starting over.
After more than a decade in healthcare, she was ready for something new. A conversation with someone at GE opened her eyes to manufacturing and the industry’s scale.
“They pretty much told me how big it can be. I said, well, this sounds very interesting. I want to make parts.”
What motivates her most is the impact of the work.
“I know that I can make parts of a plane or a refrigerator or a washing machine. Anything. Manufacturing is very important.”
Stacy is realistic about the challenge ahead. She plans to work, take classes, and raise her family at the same time.
“It’s a lot. But it’s something that I really want to do.”
The ACE Machining Bootcamp is a no-cost, short-term program offered at CFCC in partnership with America’s Cutting Edge . It is designed for people who want a clear entry point into machining and manufacturing, whether they are recent graduates testing the waters or adults ready for a new direction.
To learn more about Cape Fear Community College’s machining programs, visit cfcc.edu/machining.
