Tyler Desrochers is already giving thought to where he’d like to work after he graduates from SMCC this year. He’s looking at several different businesses that make everything from boats and furniture to products for spacecraft, aeronautics and military applications.

After Tyler graduates from our Composite Science & Manufacturing program, he’ll be able to apply his skills in many different manufacturing settings. Composite materials are used in thousands of things, from boats, bridges and cellphones to wind turbine blades and aviation parts.

With his eye to the future, Tyler’s looking at a southern Maine company that makes composite products used in industrial, commercial, and aerospace applications; a mid-coast business that manufactures boats and boat parts, furniture and even pieces of art; and yet another company that manufactures components and systems for the aerospace industry.

Tyler is bullish on what lies ahead. “There’s a growing need for people like me working with composites,” he says.

SMCC’s Composite Science program is unlike any other college program in Maine. Based at our Midcoast Campus at Brunswick Landing, the program provides education and real-world experience to prepare students for entry into many advanced manufacturing industries as a composites/materials technician, shop foreman, fabricator or materials testing technician.

Now in its fifth year, the program is growing in popularity as we establish and strengthen partnerships with high schools and employers. The Composite Science class that will begin this fall is filling up fast.

At the request of industry leaders, our Composite Science program last fall began offering a new industry certification in open molding through the American Composites Manufacturers Association. The program also offers a separate certification in the vacuum-infusion process.

At the same time, department Chair Bob Turcotte has been building and strengthening relationships with composites manufacturers and with high schools whose students might be interested in the program. Six students from Foster Career and Technical Education Center in Farmington say they intend to enroll in the program next fall.

Turcotte is spreading the word that companies are in need of people skilled in composites manufacturing.

“We’re getting a lot of good feedback,” he says. “We’re focusing on keeping jobs in Maine. People don’t realize how much composite manufacturing there is in the state.”

Tyler Desrochers is listening. After graduating high school in 2004, Tyler attended automotive technology school before going to work for Audi, the German automobile manufacturer, off-and-on for more than a decade. He also served in the Marines for six years.

While at Audi, he noticed that a lot of composite materials were used in its vehicles, sparking his interest in composites. He then enrolled in our composite program.

“I’ve learned a ton of stuff about composite manufacturing,” he says. “It’s opened my eyes.”