BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Students in Bucyrus City Schools’ Advanced Manufacturing program recently presented prototype marketing products to leaders from Forge Fire & Company as part of an authentic, career-connected learning experience rooted in design, manufacturing, and professional communication.
The project began with students touring the Forge Fire & Company facility, where they learned directly from company leadership about the business, its branding needs, and the real-world problem they were being asked to solve. Students were then challenged to act as a product design and manufacturing team for the company. Forge Fire & Company, a Bucyrus-based company committed to building the most realistic training environments in the industry, asked students to develop promotional products that could communicate the company’s brand and values in a memorable and professional way. Specifically, students were asked to design and prototype challenge coins and coasters for use at an upcoming trade show.
Student teams researched the company’s needs, created digital mockups, produced physical prototypes, and delivered professional pitches to an audience that included leaders from Forge Fire & Company, additional business leaders, and workforce development partners. Forge Fire representatives, along with several community partners, served as judges for the presentations and evaluated the student work based on design quality, functionality, branding, teamwork, and the strength of each team’s presentation. At the conclusion of the presentations, Forge Fire & Company selected one challenge coin design and one coaster design to move into production. Bucyrus students will now manufacture the selected products in the school’s lab, turning their ideas into finished items for real-world use.
“This project is exactly the kind of learning we want for our students,” said Superintendent Bob Britton. “When students are solving real problems for real companies, they see the purpose of what they are learning in a much deeper way. We are grateful to Forge Fire & Company and to our business and workforce partners for helping create an experience that connects classroom learning to the future.”
“We were impressed by the creativity, thoughtfulness, and professionalism the students brought to this challenge,” said Jim Fox of Forge Fire & Company. “They took the time to understand our business, listened carefully to our needs, and developed a variety of ideas that truly reflected our brand. It is exciting to know that the final products selected will now be manufactured by students right here in Bucyrus and be put to use proudly.”
“This experience gave students the chance to learn from business leaders firsthand, respond to an authentic need, and move their ideas from concept to production,” said Amy Wood, Director of District Partnerships for Bucyrus City Schools. “That kind of real-world engagement helps students build confidence, technical skill, and a stronger understanding of how their learning connects to future opportunities.”
The Forge Fire project reflects Bucyrus City Schools’ continued commitment to career-connected learning and to building partnerships that help students develop both technical and durable skills. Through experiences like this one, students are not only learning about industry, but actively contributing to it while growing and fulfilling in many areas of the School’s True North Vision.