SolidWorks Certification Leads Haile Middle School Students to rewarding STEM Careers

SolidWorks Certification has been offered at universities, colleges and technical high school providers that administer the Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA) Exam. The CSWA Exam tests fundamental competencies in Engineering Design, STEM principles and the use of SolidWorks.

This week I learned that eight Haile Middle School students from Sarasota County, Florida, Patrick Atkins, Benjamin Godshall Zachary Scharoun, Nicholas Wendrick, Devin Deitz, Derek Depew, Tyler Strong, and Jackson Newby became the newest CSWAs. They are the youngest class recorded. Congratulations!

Their story was told in yesterday’s Herald Tribune newspaper.

What I didn’t know is that the State for Florida awards students, that have received industry certifications, scholarship money towards college in an effort to support STEM initiatives to push more students into Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields that offer higher-paying jobs.

Doug Wagner, Manatee director of career and technical education, has worked with educators to develop programs, with industry certification, that prepares students with the job-ready skills to get great careers and have the opportunity to go to college. We are fortunate the SolidWorks is an integral part their education, where our customers needed skilled engineers and designers to develop the best products.

With our SolidWorks Virtual Testing Center, future employers can verify students SolidWorks certifications. Students can keep track of the 9 SolidWorks certifications they will take throughout their engineering career.

Educators can keep track of a students progress in the exam and the questions answered. Students must be able to read engineering drawings and create parts and assemblies that are accurate within 1% of total mass. They must also make changes to the models and caculate mass properties such as center of mass.

Qualified schools that use SolidWorks can apply to be a CSWA certified provider at www.solidworks.com/cswa.

This week, at the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) conference, we will also introduce our Certified Sustainable Design Associate (CSDA) exam that schools can provide to their students. Passing the CSDA exam proves fundamental competencies in Life Cycle Assessment and Sustainable Engineering concepts, empowering students to make the right decisions about material selection and manufacturing processes.

Thank you to the educators around the world that are CSWA Providers. You are preparing a highly skilled and talented workforce for our SolidWorks commercial customers. If you need examples of what SolidWorks customers create, visit our case studies. Marie

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Marie Planchard

Senior Director, Early Engagement, 3DEXPERIENCE Works at Dassault Systemes

Marie Planchard is an education and engineering advocate. As Senior Director of Education & Early Engagement, SOLIDWORKS, she is responsible for global development of content and social outreach for the 3DEXPERIENCE Works products across all levels of learning including educational institutions, Fab Labs, and entrepreneurship.