Category: Community Engagement

Altec partnered with FlightWorks of Alabama to add the Reach Higher curriculum to the FlightWorks We Built it Better program. The result is an all-inclusive, industry-designed, educator-developed, curricular experience that engages middle school students in a work-like STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) environment.

We Build it Better–Reach Higher is taught to eighth graders at Hardin County, Kentucky, middle schools. Altec’s Elizabethtown manufacturing facility has been a part of the Hardin County community since 1997. 

The curriculum lays a foundation for students to understand the process of developing a new product and equips them with the skills to design and create an innovative solution to a real-world industry-based challenge.

“At Altec, we believe in being more than just a local employer. We strive to serve and invest in our communities, and we are excited to help bring this opportunity to local students,” said Daniel Flory, General Manager, Elizabethtown Operations. “STEAM education is tremendously important, and we know this level of hands-on instruction will no doubt set these students up for success in their future endeavors.” 

The Altec grant provides a Snap-On tool cart. As part of the program, the school system provides students with necessary tools, consumable learning materials and other essential books and manipulatives.  A curriculum team provided professional development training to the HCS middle school teachers who provide the program instruction.  

“The We Build It Better–Reach Higher program has already made a noticeable difference in my students. They are more engaged and eager to participate, and I’ve seen them communicating more openly and effectively during activities. By the end of the year, I’m excited to see them grow in confidence—not just in their schoolwork but also in their ability to tackle challenges,” said Mandi Lyonett, teacher at West Hardin Middle School. “In the long run, I believe this program will help students develop vital skills for the future. They’ll learn to work as part of a team, understand the importance of personal responsibility, and recognize the value of their own skills and contributions.” 

On January 31, 2025, Surry-Yadkin Works and Altec officially opened the Surry-Yadkin Works FLEET center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Altec’s Mount Airy, North Carolina, facility.

Administered through Surry-Yadkin Works—the first community-based internship program in North Carolina spanning a two-county region—FLEET is the very first school program in North Carolina to be established inside a manufacturing company, connecting students with real-world manufacturing experience while they continue their education.

Students participating in the program receive classroom instruction at a dedicated space inside the Altec facility while also receiving hands-on training on various manufacturing processes within the plant.

“What makes this program special is that these students are not just gaining knowledge on how to build an Altec power distribution module; they’re gaining life skills that they’re going to carry on,” said Altec Mt. Airy General Manager Ben Griffin. “For Altec, this was an easy decision.”

The FLEET program aims to engage students who may be disconnected from traditional school settings, face attendance challenges, and need support in linking education to their future career goals. A key goal of the FLEET program is to prevent these students from becoming part of the Opportunity Youth demographic—young people aged 16 to 24 who are neither in school nor employed. With 16% of Surry County youth and 14.6% of Yadkin County youth classified in this category, FLEET provides a crucial bridge between education and employment, offering an alternative path to success.

“Like most high schoolers, I only went to school with the one main goal of just getting by to graduate and get out of high school,” said Allison Hornaday, FLEET student. “Many times, I contemplated dropping out but looking back I am so glad that I didn’t.”

Hornaday is one of 16 students currently enrolled in the program that began classes in August 2024. Although Hornaday said she had reservations about joining the program as it was far beyond her comfort zone and covered entirely new subject matter, the risk was well worth the reward she has experienced from participating.

“I have learned skills that I will take with me for the rest of my life—for example, soft skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, time management, and work ethic. I also never imagined myself wiring a PDM board, teaching others what I have learned, and moving on to paint bodies for trucks,” Hornaday said. “I have also grown as a person, being more comfortable and confident around people. I am thankful every day for everyone that is part of the program, and thankful for myself for taking a chance.”

Year after year, STEM employment continues to be among the fastest growing job sectors in the United States. Hosted annually, Altec’s Innovation Challenge encourages high school students to explore areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 

 Now in its fifth year, the Altec Innovation Challenge invites local high school students to team up and address a real-world problem with innovation that benefits their local community. Teams then get to hone their presentation skills by sharing their solution, with the winning team receiving $10,000 to implement their project. 

 Currently, Innovation Challenges are held in Birmingham, Alabama, sponsored by Altec’s corporate office, and in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, home to one of the company’s manufacturing facilities. 

Solving Water Pollution in Elizabethtown, Kentucky 

Elizabethtown’s Innovation Challenge saw 40 teams submit proposals. Of those, nine teams were selected to present their solution, with 60 students representing four local high schools. Presentations were then judged based on impact, feasibility, implementation plan and sustainability. 

 LaRue County High School students Sage Garris, Carter Peace, Conlee Crossno, and William Wooton took home the top prize for their solution to solve top water pollution in Kentucky lakes and ponds. Their solution used an autonomous watercraft prototype which will be used to collect waste from the bodies of water. A full-scale version will be launched in Freeman Lake when complete.  

 Chad Sarver, corporate training manager at Altec’s Elizabethtown manufacturing facility, said the event served as a considerable showcase of regional talent and is a great way to unite local workforce and education leaders.  

 “The Altec Innovation Challenge provides students with the opportunity to effectively collaborate, think outside the box, use innovative approaches to solve real-world problems and demonstrate their capabilities to local leaders,” said Sarver. “This event helps develop the next generation of innovators in the region, which is becoming more and more crucial as our region undergoes a wave of economic development.” 

Connecting Students with the Community in Birmingham, Alabama 

In its flagship location, the Innovation Challenge in Birmingham brought teams from Birmingham City Schools to compete for the top prize. Taking first place was the team from George W. Carver High School of Rafael Avelino, Ashley Pender, Alexandria Hall-Chambers, Devarion Thomas and Ariyan Riggs.

 In the last two years, four Carver students were taken by gun violence. In the city of Birmingham, 59% of criminal homicides involving guns were committed by someone 25 years or younger. To help address this problem, the students proposed the creation of the neXsim mobile app. Through the neXsim app, local students will be able to organically create clubs led by adult mentors based on their interests, allowing those students to have productive after-school activities that help them develop skills and talents and avoid situations that could potentially lead to poor decisions. 

 “We decided that a good way to get them off of that path is to provide them with positive pathways,” Riggs said. “We conducted a survey of students and found that over half of those interviewed were not involved in extracurricular activities because they had other commitments outside of school, or were not interested in what is offered at Carver. The algorithm will be similar to that of a dating app, matching students up with people and clubs that have similar interests that they do.” 

The group hopes that this app will eventually be used by all interested students in the Birmingham area. 

 Congratulations to all participating students and thank you for your hard work and dedication to improving our communities.