Skip to Content
Springfield Technical Community College
Search
Menu
  • Opener Explore Programs & Classes
    • Credit
    • Class Schedules
    • Course Descriptions
    • Degrees & Certificates
    • Flex Terms
    • Honors Program
    • Online Learning
    • Register for classes
    • Non-Credit
    • Springfield Adult Learning Center (SALC)
    • Workforce Development Center
    • More Programs
    • College For Kids Summer Programs
    • English Language Learners
    • Gateway to College
    • STEM Starter Academy
    • Testing & Placement
    • HiSET/GED Exams
  • Opener Apply To STCC
    • Get Started
    • Online Admissions Application
    • Admissions Policies
    • Visit STCC
    • Information Sessions
    • Open House
  • Opener Pay for College
    • Financial Aid
    • College Costs
    • Worried About Student Debt?
    • Scholarships & Awards
    • Smart Start
  • Opener Student Resources
    • Academic
    • Academic Advising
    • Challenge Exams
    • Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield
    • Library
    • Registrar's Office
    • Request a Transcript
    • STEM Center
    • Tech Support
    • Transfer Services
    • Tutoring
    • Writing Center
    • Support
    • Career Services
    • Child Care
    • Disability Services
    • Domestic Violence Resources
    • Male Initiative for Leadership and Education
    • Student Affairs
    • Student Policies
    • TRIO Services
    • Veterans/Service Members
    • Wellness
    • Center for Access Services
    • Health & Wellness Center
    • Medical Re-entry Process
    • Mental Health Support
  • Opener Campus Life
    • Arts and Culture
    • Athletics
    • Bookstore
    • Campus Safety
    • Fitness Center
    • Food Services
    • Multicultural Affairs
    • Parking and Transportation
    • Student Activities & Clubs
  • Opener About STCC
    • Accreditation
    • Board of Trustees
    • Campus Alert Updates
    • Campus Map & Directions
    • Community Engagement
    • Contact Information/ Directories
    • Employment
    • Hispanic Serving Institution
    • History of the College
    • Institutional Research
    • President's Message
    • Publications
    • Public Records
    • Purchasing/Bids
    • Student Consumer Information
    • Student Success Stories
  • eTools
    • STCC Account/Getting Started
    • Password Manager

    • STCCNet
    • Email
    • Blackboard
    • WebAdvisor
    • Tech Tutorials
    • STCC Alert System
    • STCC Mobile App
    • Request a Transcript
    • Online Tutoring
  • Library
  • News
    • STCC News
    • Media Coverage
    • Campus Blog
    • STCC Around
    • Student News
  • Calendar
    • Academic Calendar
    • Final Exam Schedule
    • Campus Events
    • Enrollment Events
    • Commencement
    • Community Conversations
  • Alumni
  • Give
    • Donate Now
    • STCC Foundation
    • Rams Warrior Society
    • Campaign for Student Success
  • Translate
alert-ico CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATES

STCC is online for spring with some limited low-density labs on campus. More info: stcc.edu/coronavirus.

  • Home
  • /
  • About STCC
  • /
  • News
In this Section
About STCC
  • Accreditation
  • Board of Trustees
    • Bylaws
    • Board of Trustees Meetings
    • Minutes of Board of Trustees Meetings
    • Alumni Trustee Position
  • Campus Map and Directions
  • Communications and Marketing
    • Publications
  • Community Engagement
    • Community Conversations
    • Community Dental Care
    • Facility Rentals
      • Event Request Form
    • Farmers' Market
    • STCC Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
    • WTCC Radio
  • Employee Directory
  • Employment at STCC
  • Ethic of Care
  • Faculty
  • Hispanic Serving Institution
  • History of the College
    • Our Presidents
    • Our Founders
    • Shays' Rebellion Website
  • Institutional Research
  • Institutional Review Board
  • News
    • Hometown News
    • Media Coverage
    • STCC Around
    • Student News
  • Office Directory
  • President's Message
  • Public Records
  • Purchasing
    • Accounts Payable
    • Facilities Contractor Bids
    • Food Services
  • Rankings
  • STCC Assistance Corporation
  • Student Consumer Information
  • Student Success Stories
  • 29 Who Shine

Enfield, Conn., students get hands-on experience at STCC

March 12, 2019

ETLA students in MET labJohn LaFrancis, left, a professor of mechanical engineering technology at STCC, introduced a class from Enfield Transitional Learning Academy to the basics of machining parts using mills and lathes. At right is Maureen LaFrancis, a teacher who heads the ETLA program. The students are, from left, Alex Schillinger, Joe Brown, James Mark, Stephen Conklin and Sean Kirkbride.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Students from Enfield Transitional Learning Academy got a chance to explore Springfield Technical Community College’s Mechanical Engineering Technology laboratory and use the state-of-the-art machines to create fidget spinners.

James Mark and Alex Schillinger, two students from the ETLA program, made fidget spinners in the MET lab.

ETLA, an Enfield Public Schools program, serves the needs of students with developmental challenges between the ages of 18 and 21. Special education teacher Maureen LaFrancis, who heads the program, thought it would be a good idea to expose the young men to computer numerical control (CNC) machining.

Accompanied by two job coaches who work with the students, LaFrancis often takes her class to area businesses to get hands-on experience in a variety of different types of jobs. They have bagged groceries, cleaned balls at a bowling alley, made pizza boxes for a pizzeria and tagged clothing at retail businesses, to name a few of their jobs.

Fidget spinners machined in the MET lab.

In a March 11 visit to STCC's MET lab, the students met LaFrancis’ husband, John LaFrancis, a professor of mechanical engineering technology. He offered a lesson on how the machines can cut aluminum blocks and cylinders into the parts that comprise toy fidget spinners.

While they didn’t delve into the programming of the machines, which is taught at STCC, the students had fun with the basics of setting up the aluminum material and operating the mills and lathes. They went home with the fidget spinners they made at STCC.

“They can possibly do something like this for work,” Maureen LaFrancis said. “We want to push them out of their comfort zones. It’s good to expose them to different career options.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC, a designated Hispanic Serving Institution and an Achieving the Dream Leader College, offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, engineering, liberal arts, science and technology continue to provide the most economical options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of more than 5,000 day, evening, weekend and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.

For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@S_T_C_C) and Instagram (@stccpics).

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

  • See All News

Website Disclaimer

Springfield Technical Community College provides the information herein as a public service, with the understanding that Springfield Technical Community College strives to achieve the highest standards in content accuracy on its Website. Springfield Technical Community College makes no warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this Website. Errors or omissions should be reported to the web developer: webmaster@stcc.edu. Visitors to our Web pages might see links to Internet resources outside of the Springfield Technical Community College Website: all are provided solely for the convenience of our Website visitors. By providing such links, Springfield Technical Community College should not be considered as endorsing any or all outside sites linked from our main site. When a visitor links to another site that is not an official Springfield Technical Community College Website, the user is no longer on a Springfield Technical Community College Website and thus, Springfield Technical Community College disclaims any responsibility or liability for the services or information offered at such non-college sites. At all times, Springfield Technical Community College makes every effort to accurately present programs and policies to the public. Those responsible for preparation of the catalog, the class schedule, and all other public announcements make every effort to ensure that the information presented is current and correct. However, Springfield Technical Community College reserves the right to modify or eliminate courses or programs and to add, amend, or repeal any and all rules, regulations, policies, and procedures at any time. Springfield Technical Community College assumes no responsibility for publication errors beyond its control. All users of the College's Website shall have no expectation of privacy over such use.

Springfield Technical Community College
One Armory Square,
Springfield, MA 01105
(413) 781-7822
.
  • Contact
  • Employment
  • Disclaimer
  • Sitemap
  • Campus Map & Directions
  • Affirmative Action & Title IX
  • Student Consumer Information
  • Web Accessibility
Comwealth Commitment Logo
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram