European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 30, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                12 stripes Okinawa an advertising supplement Friday March 30 2007 James Orta Jorge Cristobal and Matthew Maza Ponder the next step in their Model Powerboat project preparing students for the future Story and photos by Mike Liem High school graduates like you and i May remember shop anything without a computer nowadays the workstations Are in t i f 1 1 Tii o i f o to i i f it r f 1 k 4 j 1 i class As the period to learn carpentry Metal fabrication and automotive repair times have changed at Dodds Okinawa schools Auto repair is still offered but what used to be shop class is now part of a comprehensive curriculum called professional technical studies pts is an updated version of the career and vocational curriculum courses Are designed for students leaning toward lucrative careers in professions like engineering and computer graphics pts students gain knowledge and skill develop ment by studying technical concepts and Handson training their work is geared As much to Core academics As it is to vocational education As Kubasak High school pts teacher Jon Walden puts it my students Arent Here to learn a Trade if Walden has his Way his students will go on to make the big Bucks As engineers and entertain ment Media artists an 11year Kubasak faculty member Walden teaches computer animation robotics mechanical engineering and video communications among other subjects Walden classroom is an expansive the students built the boats Hull using computer aided techniques the boats Cowling is formed from space age Carbon fiber used not Only for traditional applications like graphics animation and video editing but also for computer aided ing and computerized numerically controlled inc machining the state theart equipment allows students to turn their designs into real components the Range of activities in Walden classroom usually has him hopping from one end of the room to the other As he assists students on this Day though he is much More relaxed As there Are Only eight students in the classroom a Trio of seniors enrolled in the engineering design and develop ment course James Orta Jorge Cristobal and Matthew Maza Are working on a radio controlled Model Powerboat James a valedictorian candidate conducts himself As the project team Leader when he shows off the boats Tunnel shaped Hull the team designed and built the wooden Hull and its internal flotation components using techniques their latest creation is the boats Cowling made of Carbo fiber the Light but r extremely Strong material is used extensively in aerospace and facility with rows of workstations and a Well equipped machine motor racing industries Jorge proudly Points out that the Young f t it t 1 i St w r r i v 1 11 j l r r and fabrication shop True to Walden assertion that you cant do men handmaid and formed the space age material themselves