A group of students from Waukesha North High School’s technology and manufacturing program earned praise from members of the Waukesha School Board for their presentation skills and for their school’s focus on the skilled trade.

Seven North student outlined projects Wednesday night they had worked on for their technical education classes, projects that that addressed school or community needs like new shelving for the stage props, a rainwater collection tower, and a safety railing. Projects also included automotive repair.

Each of the projects used processes and tools found in modern-day manufacturing, computer-animated design software, industrial math and a CNC plasma cutter, literally cutting edge technology.

With these projects, the students were able to incorporate many things schools teach.

“Not only things that benefit us in high school but certainly skills that we can take with us after high school,” said student Denver Bramel.

School Board member William Baumgart said he visited the school, met the students and noted that they were enthusiastic about the program and projects.

Baumgart called it an “outstanding example” of project-based learning and said he was “extremely impressive work they do there.”

The students received compliment from board members Ellen Langill and Karin Rajnicek on their presentation, dress and professional demeanor at the board meeting. Rajnicek noted that they even came early for the meeting.

For school board member Steve Edlund, who has worked in the trades for 30 years, it’s heartening to hear the focus on technical education.

“It’s really important and encouraging for me as a board member to hear that we have been working with our community to prepare our students for real life,” Edlund said. “We’ve been pushing for the last 15 years to send everybody to college and while that’s important, I think vocational and technical schools are equally important. … We need skilled workers.”