LILLINGTON – Students in Central Carolina Community College’s Laser Technology, Photonics, and Electronics Engineering Technology programs experienced some of the logistics of running a successful tech conference when they served as volunteers at the PCB Carolina 2022 e-commerce show and technical conference.
The event was held on November 9 at the McKimmon Center on the campus of NC State University in Raleigh. The conference is organized and sponsored by local electronics-related industries, such as Better Boards of Cary, one of the main sponsors.
Laser students Matthew Blue, Curtos Booth, Dominic Hannigan, Isaac Leon Mendoza, Christopher Long, Juan Martinez, Aisha Nettles, and Ryan Smith from Harnett County volunteered to help with the event. Moore County’s Colleen McDuffie; Dylon Dierolf from Lee County; Jane Faircloth and David Johnson of Wake County; electronics student Matthew Rogers from Harnett County; and Gary Beasley, senior instructor in the CCCC Laser Technology and Photonics Program. CCCC’s PCB Carolina program was also attended by laser student Bradley Austin of Harnett County. Sandra Castungway, CCCC IT and Engineering Chair, and John Laver, CCCC Electronics Instructor.
“This is a wonderful learning opportunity for our students,” said Beasley. “They can attend the technical sessions of the conference, which teaches them about the future avenues available for continuing education to keep abreast of new and upcoming technologies. In the exhibition hall, students can meet technology companies, learn about their products, learn about new technical terms, and discover many potential career opportunities in the local area in their field of study.” .
CCCC students have been attending the conference and helping with the event since 2016. Each year, Randy Fawcett, Better Boards’ chair of engineering, reaches out to Beasley to ask for student volunteers to help.
Feedback on the efforts of CCCC student volunteers and their contributions to the success of PCB Carolina has been very positive. Beasley noted that Steve Trasatto, who helps organize volunteer activities and schedules for PCB Carolina, said CCCC students came for them again this year at the PCB Carolina trade show.
Beasley said that many event organizers and corporate exhibitors have reached out to him, sharing how much they admire CCC students. Beasley said they particularly commented on the students’ work ethic, politeness, professionalism, and interest in learning.
“I was very proud of the way our students represented CCCC at this event,” he said.
