FEF’s network of colleges and universities do a great job of making sure their communities and student bodies know what metalcasting is and why it’s important to society. But there’s another, mostly untapped, pool of potential metalcasters: high school students. 

Early exposure for high schoolers enables them to explore their interests and determine whether to pursue metalcasting after they graduate. 

That is why FEF has developed a program called, Metalcasting in the Classroom. Partnering with METAL (Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeships and Learning), we are creating opportunities to strengthen and expand the workforce pipeline for metallurgical trades. This program provides teachers with hands-on, ready-made lessons for grades 7-12, a mini-foundry experience kit, connections to industry professionals, and grant funding.

FEF’s involvement can play a key role in helping high school students transition into FEF-certified and affiliate schools. Joe Costabile, FEF alum (Bradley University) and former board member, has been on a mission for 15 years visiting high schools to demonstrate the foundry-in-a-box. 

“I was first introduced to metalcasting during my freshman year of high school,” he said, “and I immediately fell in love with it.” He added, “I later chose to attend a college with a working foundry. Without that early exposure in high school, I would not be part of the metalcasting industry today.”

To help expand the Metalcasting in the Classroom program, FEF has hired Costabile as a full-time staff member dedicated to this outreach effort.

From Hearing to Knowing

Lots of students have heard the term “foundry” or “metalcasting” thanks to videos they’ve seen on social media, says Costabile. But most of them don’t really understand what they’re looking at. Classroom encounters change that! Through school demonstrations, students get to experience every part of the sand-casting process: molding, melting, pouring, and cleaning their castings. 
“People sometimes ask me why I enjoy doing these demonstrations so much, said Costabile. “For me, it’s knowing that I might be the one who introduces someone to their passion, something they didn’t even know existed prior to my visit to their classroom. Watching their faces light up as they pour the metal or hold their finished casting for the first time, that’s what keeps me coming back year after year.”

Costabile is not the only one who leaves the demonstration with a sense of excitement. FEF has received feedback from students who have attended those events: “Thank you so much for showing us how metalcasting works and the things we can do in it.” “It was a lot fun.” And the response we really like to hear: “After that day, I think I want to pursue a career in material science!” 
Getting high schoolers excited about metalcasting now leads to engaged college freshmen––and ultimately helps develop the next generation of foundry leaders.

If you know of a high school offering STEM or science courses that would benefit from an introduction to metalcasting, please email michelle@fefinc.org for more information. Costabile or one of the FEF alumni will bring a hands-on demonstration to their classroom.