AHS students make metal banners for city light poles

ARLINGTON – Students in Arlington High School’s Advanced Manufacturing class are teaming up with the city to produce metal banners for certain light poles.

The 30-inch by 60-inch metal banners will be placed along the new Arlington Valley Road in the city’s industrial park. The banners are expected to be installed this summer.

The students recently gave presentations to the mayor and other representatives on their designs, which included trees, wildlife, machinery, aviation and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The designs for the project will be selected over the next few weeks.

AHS senior Selena Tedford spent nearly three weeks designing her banner, which included a worker and an anvil.

“I had to go through each line in the design program and everything had to fit perfectly,” she said.

Last year, students in the class produced metal bike racks that were placed throughout Arlington. Sarah Lopez, Community Revitalization project manager for the city, said the project was so successful that Mayor Barb Tolbert wanted to collaborate on another project with the students.

For the bike rack project, students had to send out their racks to be cut. Over the winter, the school obtained a Computer Numerical Control Plasma Table, which can cut the signs in minutes.

“By having the CNC Plasma Table in house, the students learn the manufacturing process from start to finish,” said Collin Nelson, AHS engineering/welding teacher. “This also gives the students hands-on industrial knowledge which is critical for future employers. We have some local manufacturers who are already talking with some of our seniors about their plans after high school.”