Industrial and Systems Engineering faculty brings manufacturing to life for Huntsville middle schoolers
Middle schoolers from the Huntsville Learning Center’s STREAM Team recently received a firsthand look at the world of manufacturing, thanks to the Bird Inc. program hosted by the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS).
Allison Ledford, assistant research professor in the Auburn University Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, volunteers at the Huntsville Learning Center (HLC), exposing students to STEM-related careers. She recently coordinated with Bird Inc. State Coordinator John Cranston to bring the 50-minute activity to students.
Held at the Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus, the program simulates a real-world manufacturing environment, allowing students to step into roles such as company president, sales, marketing and engineering. The program is designed to give students a comprehensive view of manufacturing processes and business decisions.
“Our kids thoroughly enjoyed the Bird Inc. program,” said Ray Allister, executive director of the HLC. “They started off as cool teenagers who didn’t want to seem interested, but by the end, they were completely engrossed. Even students not chosen for on-stage roles participated enthusiastically as investors, solving challenges and learning critical business strategies.”
Allister added that as an organization, the HLC is committed to offering students exposure to education and career options.
“I know that these students saw manufacturing in a light they would not otherwise see it in,” he said.
Ledford, a former HLC student herself, praised the program’s impact on young minds.
“During STREAM Team, we’ve introduced manufacturing concepts, but nothing compares to the hands-on experience Bird Inc. provides,” she said. “Students made business decisions, measured chemicals and set up equipment. Seeing their pride in the finished bird decoy was incredibly rewarding.”
The STREAM Team, led by Ledford and her husband, Jackson, uses 3D printing and other tools to expose students to STEM careers. Their efforts have yielded significant results, including an honorable mention in the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Digital Manufacturing Contest, which took students to Los Angeles for the Rapid + TCT conference.
“Allison has broken barriers for our students,” Allister added. “Her commitment has opened doors for many, showing them how achievable careers in manufacturing can be. The experiences she’s provided — from local programs to national competitions — will have a lasting impact on our students’ futures.”
Bird Inc., created by Cranston in 1996, was revived by ICAMS in 2023. Since then, it has introduced more than 700 sixth graders to STEM concepts, with plans to reach more than 28,000 Alabama students in the next two years.
Media Contact: , carla@auburn.edu, 334-844-1404
Middle schoolers from the Huntsville Learning Center’s STREAM Team recently received a firsthand look at the world of manufacturing, thanks to the Bird Inc. program.
