Garrett Salser, an 18-year-old senior at Madison High School, is a “top notch” student of James Thompson’s Precision Machining Technology class. Salser is an example of young talent that will contribute skills to the future of Richland County.
The Precision Machining program at Madison High School teaches students like Salser to develop lathes and mills for companies that use large machines. Essentially, the students students in the operation and maintenance of tools and machines such as lathes, grinders, milling machines, and drill presses.
“Last year we got a 5,000 piece job for a toilet company,” said Salser.
This past summer, Salser entered the SkillsUSA Competition and progressed through the regional and state levels, until finally he reached the National level in Kansas City, Kansas. There, he placed fifth in the nation for his lathe and Computer and Numerical Control (CNC) program design.
Students are not judged solely on their craftsmanship, however. The judges also look at “hard work and dedication to the project,” according to Salser.
Salser currently works for a local company, Brandt’s Custom Machining. Ben Brandt, the owner, also attended Madison High School and competed in the same competition back in 2002. He won the state competition and competed in the national.
James Thompson, Salser and Brandt’s teacher at Madison, must be doing something right to cultivate champions. When asked what he does, he replied simply, “I throw as much stuff at them as possible and see what happens.” He adopts the hands-off method as a teacher and makes himself available to answer specific questions.
“When the students get ideas on projects they would like to do, I let them,” said Thompson.
Thompson has worked for several companies around Mansfield, but for the last 14 years has taught at Madison High School.
Salser wants to use his skills as a precision machinist to be a Mastercam, a person who writes tool paths into computer drafting programs. He plans to pursue a degree from North Central State College under a two year program.
“When the students get ideas on projects they would like to do, I let them,” said James Thompson.
