Andrew Illuzzi heard about
the reputation of Southeast Community College’s Precision Machining and
Automation Technology program all the way from New Jersey. He and his wife,
Christina, moved to Lincoln for the duration of the program.
“The reputation of the
program was excellent,” Illuzzi said. “It’s leaps and bounds ahead of other
schools with this program.”
Program Chair Kirby Taylor said it’s
not new to get nationwide recognition for the program, but it is the first time
someone moved from New Jersey specifically for the program.
“There’s no better confirmation of
knowing you do a job right when someone chooses you as their path, knowing
their decision is coming at great personal cost but they still deem it
worthwhile,” Taylor said.
Illuzzi’s father owns a mold
and tool company in New Jersey called Linden Mold Tool Inc. He asked other
people in the profession about a good school for his son to attend, and SCC kept
coming up in the conversation.
“There was a smaller place in
Massachusetts and one in Washington, but they were nowhere near as good a
program as Milford’s,” he said. “The class size at SCC was one of the biggest factors
for me. I got a lot of one-on-one time and they always had the time to show us
what we needed to do.”
Illuzzi was in the Marine
Corps and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from American Military University.
He knew he wanted to work at his father’s shop, so he set out to expand his
education at SCC.
SCC’s Precision Machining and
Automation Technology program prepares students for a fast-paced career in
manufacturing, specializing in tool making, mold making and manufacturing
automation. Students can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree or a
diploma.
“It’s not only working with
your hands, you have to really think about what you’re doing,” Illuzzi said. “You
make very deliberate and precise moves in this field.”
Illuzzi and his wife spent 18
months in Nebraska to finish the program, and then recently returned to New
Jersey where he will work with his new knowledge of the industry.
“I will be bringing back a
good foundation and a basic understanding of what toolmakers do,” he said. “It
was a no-brainer coming to SCC Milford.”
Taylor has no doubt Illuzzi
will succeed in the field of precision machining.
“He’s a top-notch student
with an exceptional work ethic,” Taylor added.
Illuzzi graduated from SCC’s
program in December 2018.