Nash creates electrical schematics and panel layouts in AutoCAD as part of her Automation program .
I feel lucky
that I chose this school
.
One NWTC student has traveled halfway around the world and earned three college degrees to achieve her dream — and she ’ s on her way to a fourth .
Nuchanat “ Nash ” Pongsai earned a bachelor ’ s degree in her native Thailand that didn ’ t feel like a good fit . At age 21 , she decided to come to the United States to learn English , but when she arrived , she remembered her love of engineering .
“ I ’ m like , I should pursue my dream !” she said with a grin .
For the last several years , Pongsai has been an energetic presence in the engineering technology and mechanical technology labs , succeeding in some of the most academically challenging programs at the college , impressing her instructors , working on group projects and making new friends , all in a language she is still learning .
“ Luckily , I have wonderful classmates around here ,” she said . “ English is not my first language . But in [ NWTC ], they will come to talk to you . Even if they don ’ t understand what I ’ m saying , they try . I feel lucky that I chose this school .”
She enrolled first in the Manufacturing Engineering Technology associate degree program “ to see what engineering is , what the jobs are , and what they learn ,” Pongsai said . She earned that degree in 2018 , completed Electro-Mechanical Technology in 2019 and will complete Automation Engineering Technology in 2020 . “ Automation , I feel , it is an art , because when you control something , you have to think , use imagination , how you ’ re going to program it , how you ’ re going to control it , and do no damage ,” Pongsai said . “ You have to understand everything .”
She sees many cultural similarities between Thailand and Wisconsin .
“ I cannot see much difference ,” Pongsai said . “ Your culture and my culture are basically more high tech , more open-minded , and we have respect for privacy .”
The weather , though , is another matter . “ In the week that I came , in Thailand , it was about 80 , but here it was 40 , and I was like , wow .”
Pongsai encourages women to consider technical careers no matter the challenges . She left Thailand and moved to Wisconsin without ever having seen the area , and only a few years later , she has found friends among her classmates and her co-workers at Arrowcast Inc . in Shawano .
“ I am a woman , I am an international student , and in trades and engineering ,” she said . “ I would tell every girl , ‘ Don ’ t be scared . Be proud of you and do your best .”
Make things faster , stronger and safer in engineering technology
Math , science , advanced technology — we love it , too ! NWTC teaches engineering technologies hands-on , with real-world projects , 3D printing and prototyping labs , robots , milling and machining equipment , electronics , hydraulics , computer-aided design and computer-numeric controls — not to mention employer visits and national competitions .
Starting salaries in engineering technologies are above NWTC ’ s average , with many graduates earning more than $ 50,000 per year right out of school . And graduates are in high demand — a recent survey of Northeast Wisconsin manufacturers listed engineering as one of the most hard-to-fill occupations .
CURIOUS ?
Start at nwtc . edu / STEM
FALL 2020 | NWTC . EDU 7