“Francis Tuttle really sets you up for success, which I love so much.”
When Makenna Dill first connected a tiny light-emitting diode to a breadboard at Francis Tuttle Technology Center, she didn't expect the simple exercise to change the course of her future.
While the project, completed during an electrical unit in the Engineering Academy, may have seemed simple, it sparked something bigger for Dill.
“I thought that was the most exciting thing ever,” she said.
As Dill talked with friends in the Portland Campus common areas afterward, they told her that the hands-on electrical work she enjoyed was something students did every day in the Advanced Manufacturing program. Intrigued, she toured the program a few times before deciding to switch. It didn’t take long for Dill to realize she had found the right fit.
“I’ve had so much fun here,” Dill said. “I’ve figured out that’s kind of how my brain works, and it’s definitely how I want to work in my career field after I graduate.”
Dill, who completed the program and graduated from Deer Creek High School last month, earned between 25 to 30 certifications during her time at Francis Tuttle. These credentials will provide her with a significant head start when she begins her studies in electrical engineering at Wichita State University in the fall. Dill said all of the certifications she has earned at Francis Tuttle will be valid at the university, saving her both time and money.
“I feel like it sets me so far ahead of the other high school students that are going into college or going into industry,” Dill said. “They look at my resume and they’re like, ‘Wow, this is hard to come by as a high school student with all this experience and hands-on work.’ It makes me feel confident that I can prove that I know what I’m talking about too.”
Outside of the classroom, Dill stayed involved through SkillsUSA and the Superintendent’s Leadership Academy. In April, Dill earned the rank of Eagle Scout, becoming the first female in her troop’s history to do so.
“I love being involved in the outdoors as well,” Dill shared. “I like to have that balance. Scouting really did that for me, and it’s created a lot of good connections for me as well. I have this whole network of people from Francis Tuttle and Scouting, and it’s huge.”
This summer, Dill will complete an internship with OG&E, working at the Mustang Power Plant. Dill has also conducted interviews with aviation technology organizations in Wichita and hopes to have the opportunity to work for one of them while taking college classes.
Beyond technical training, Dill credits Francis Tuttle with helping her grow both personally and professionally. Much of that growth came from learning alongside adult classmates. Dill, who was the only high school-aged female student in her Advanced Manufacturing class, found the program to be a “refreshing environment” where she was encouraged to excel.
“Being in this program has helped me in my professional manner as well, especially with the SkillsUSA trainings,” Dill said. “I feel like I’m very confident to talk to adults and bring up anything that’s going on. Say we’re working on a group project, and I go up to the head person, and I’m like, ‘I don't think this will work.’ I’m not afraid to speak up about that, and I know how to bring it up in a proper manner that’s not unprofessional.”
While Dill isn’t exactly certain where her career will lead, especially with so many different paths where she could apply her engineering knowledge, she is confident in the foundation she has built.
“I’m going to see where my opportunities take me because that’s what I’ve done so far, and it’s been really successful,” Dill explained. “Francis Tuttle really sets you up for success, which I love so much.”