Last week, Big Ideas partnered with Girl with Grit, a Texas based nonprofit, to bring a welding course to the girls in the program. The course was taught by our instructor, Briana Huhn, and covered MIG welding basics along with plasma cutting. The girls were able to learn shop safety and fundamentals of MIG welding,
Our Mobile Learning Trailer premiered at New Ulm Cathedral school this week! Students had the chance to try augmented virtual welding, paint simulator, and our brand new CAT heavy equipment trailer. If you are interested in having us come to your school, contact Rebecca Fliszar at: Director@bigideasusa.org
The focus of Women in Construction (WIC) Week is to highlight women as a viable component of the construction industry. WIC Week also provides an occasion for NAWIC’s thousands of members across the country to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in the construction industry and to emphasize the growing role of women
My name is Andrew Kish I am currently a millwright at United Farmers Coop. I live in New Ulm Minnesota. 2008-2009- Went to ridge water college to receive my certificate in auto body. 2009-2010- Worked at Teskeys manufacturing as a welding manager. 2010-2011- Worked for Grain States LLC as a laborer and a welder building
Another exciting day at Big Ideas this past weekend. Saturday’s class consisted of: CAD, Plumbing, small engine assembly, and Ironworks (Millwright). Students of all ages can get introduced to a variety of trades. Let us know what classes you would be interested in taking!
We held a class specializing in the art of drywall! This is a great skill for any homeowner to know! Interested in learning this, or something similar? Let us know!
Our first 4H Club class was a huge success! The participants got to learn a variety of trades and got to use some awesome technology. Over the next 6 months, these students will explore over 10 different skilled trades. We are currently holding classes for all ages. Register here:
Big Ideas would like to welcome Jason Spurgin to our team! He has been an active carpenter since 1999! His true gift is his ability to connect with young students and new learners. Check out his impressive resume: 2010-present: Inspection technician City of New Ulm and Courtland. Building, HVAC, Plumbing, Fire and general building safety
Brianna is opening our first satellite office in Michigan! Her welding career is moving her East and she is bringing Big Ideas along with her! We will miss having her in our office, but we are all very excited to see what’s next for her.
Trades day was a huge hit! This was an opportunity for young people to try hands-on trades. Stations included: Carpentry Sewing Welding with a Virtual Machine Virtual Reality Painting We have real professionals who teach at each station. We hope this sparks an interest for students to explore options in the trades. If you are
Big Ideas USA was recently awarded as 1 of the 7 organizations in Minnesota by the Hirevets.org . We are extremely proud of this achievement, and we look forward to doing more! The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal-level veterans’ employment award that recognizes a company or organization’s commitment to veteran hiring, retention,
Available for 10-14-year-olds with virtual reality and hands-on trades experiences 2-hour event with multiple stations. 9:00 am – 11:00 am Virtual welding Virtual paint Safety and measuring
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Maker’s Fair event with us! We got to show off our new VR paint technology and virtual welding machines. If you want to try them yourself, check out our class list: bigideasusa.org/events https://vimeo.com/465474407
Big Ideas will be at the Maker’s Fair in downtown New Ulm on October 3rd from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm in front of our OLD office at 9 N. Minnesota St. Try Virtual Welding and our new Virtual Paint Simulator!
New Ulm MN – It would be hard to believe that there is an organization that has not been slowed because of this global pandemic. Well, after a six-month hiatus, Big Ideas is back! We are scheduling classes through the end of the year and are ensuring that practices are being taken to create a
Thank you to Ryan Tree service of Springfield for showing us the professionalism and accuracy your company provides it’s customers. It truly was amazing to watch your team transform a yard so quickly and efficiently. It was very nice to see you leave the property cleaner than you found it. If you are interested in
Big Ideas was a recent grant recipient of $1500 for purchasing two sewing machines for teaching sewing skills. Accepting the grant is Mary Ann Christensen, President. NUAF representatives are Rick Jensen, Kathy Van Roekel, Shannon Hillesheim, Lauri Stark and Tom Hayes.
https://vimeo.com/437732881 We had an opportunity to interview and tour with the team at G&S Manufacturing in Courtland. They told us a little about how they got started, some of the machines they use, and how they grew from two people to having 28 employees. At G&S, they make products for many different industries including coal
The classroom is traditionally the backdrop for education, inspiration, and growing curiosity. For Big Ideas, it is all of those things and also a great source of joy, as we see our mission fulfilled. A couple of months ago, we delivered our most recent course in a classroom setting. We recently received feedback on the
As another school year comes to an end for high school students, many incoming seniors are beginning to seriously think about their future beyond high school. High school students are becoming more aware of the downfalls associated with a typical 4-year degree; i.e., a lot of student loan debt and difficulty of finding a job
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