Industry 4.0 Academy pilot program concludes with ceremony at Penn State DuBois

DuBOIS, Pa. – The North Central Pennsylvania (NCPA) LaunchBox powered by Penn State DuBois celebrated the conclusion of its inaugural Industry 4.0 Academy on May 19, with a certificate presentation ceremony honoring six local high school students who completed the pilot program.

Held on the Penn State DuBois campus, the ceremony recognized the achievements of students who participated in the academy, focused on preparing the next generation of the advanced manufacturing workforce. Students, family members, representatives from the DuBois Area School District, and Penn State DuBois faculty and staff gathered to mark the occasion.

The Industry 4.0 Academy is designed to introduce high school students to the technologies and skills associated with the fourth industrial revolution, including robotics, 3D printing, automation, digital design and additive manufacturing. The pilot program launched in fall 2024 as a partnership between the LaunchBox and the DuBois Area School District, offering students hands-on training and exposure to cutting-edge manufacturing tools and methods.

"We’re proud of these students for taking initiative and investing in their futures," said Bradley Lashinsky, director of the NCPA LaunchBox. "This program is about preparing our region’s youth for high-demand careers and helping to build a skilled local workforce. A local workforce that offers careers with self-sustaining, wage paying positions."

In addition to the certificate ceremony, an open house was held to preview the upcoming fall session of the Industry 4.0 Academy. Interested students and families had the opportunity to tour the facilities, learn about the curriculum, and speak with instructors and staff.

The academy is part of a broader initiative to support workforce development and regional innovation through the Invent Penn State network, which includes the NCPA LaunchBox. The fall 2025 session is expected to expand capacity and build on the successes of the pilot cohort, with plans to expand the program to offer additional opportunities to students from other regional school districts. Participants will travel to campus three days a week for hands-on learning while completing supplementary exercises outside the classroom.

School districts that are interested in learning more about future installments of the Industry 4.0 Academy can contact Brad Lashinsky for more information.

To learn more about the NCPA LaunchBox powered by Penn State DuBois, visit the website.