Shalor McKee discovered his love for metalworking at age 12 when he took a ring-making class. Years later, SMCC is now preparing him for a career making things out of metal materials.
After that first class, he followed his passion by working as an intern at a metal arts studio and then going to a vocational-technical high school in his Massachusetts hometown, where he focused on welding. He also worked at a machine shop where they made conveyor belts for the food industry.
When the time came for college, SMCC was the only school McKee applied to. It had everything he wanted: a two-year degree in precision machining and dormitories so he could live on campus and get a full-college experience.
SMCC provides him modern computer-controlled tools and faculty who have connections in the industry. After he graduates, he know he’ll have a bright future wherever he lands because of the strong demand for machinists. He might go back to the company he worked for in high school.
“I’ve always enjoyed making things, fixing things and figuring out how things work. I’ve had some experience in this field through the years, but I came to SMCC to earn a degree so I could learn how to do things the right way.”