Polaris Career Center and Swagelok collaborate to help instructor fighting cancer

When administrators at Polaris Career Center learned that Precision Machining program instructor Tony Sambunjak had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, they searched for ways to ease his workload while ensuring the students receive the hands-on training they need. An administrator from Polaris Career Center reached out to Swagelok to ask for assistance. Swagelok agreed to expand the already established internship program, giving more students the opportunity to practice the skills needed to complete the program and start careers.

Swagelok, based in Solon, OH, is a multi-billion dollar company that produces and services equipment for the oil and gas, transportation, and semiconductor industries. Over a seven-year partnership, Swagelok has provided students from Polaris with 32 internships. Under the agreed expansion, this year 13 seniors are completing internships with the company and Swagelock has agreed to interview all 22 juniors currently enrolled in the Precision Machinery program at Polaris. Polaris Employment Coordinator Maureen Lehman was the one to initially reach out to Swagelok upon learning of Sambunjak's diagnosis. In an article published by Cleveland.com, she says, "Both teams, here and at Swagelok, came together. Swagelok makes you feel like you're not a number, but family. It's an amazing company."

Sambunjak continues to teach, even through treatment, and talked about how the students are doing at Swagelok and how well prepared they were to begin the internships. "This is an extensive program, and they had the basics. The students are just beaming when they explain to me what they're doing at Swagelok. You can see the pride, because they're learning something new. It's so gratifying."

Representatives of Swagelok report that students from Polaris arrive for their internships prepared for the work at hand and that the internship program is beneficial for all involved. As Swagelok Training and Development Specialist, Donald Daniel, phrased it, "It helps to bring in our younger talent, while helping the community and the kids. It sets them up for success."

Jayden Brubaker and Stephen Wenger are Polaris students currently working part-time for Swagelok. They both expressed gratitude for the experience gained at Swagelok and for the instruction they have received from Sambunjak. As Brubaker expressed, "Mr. Sambunjak is the best out there and has taught us everything. We're really grateful for all he's done for us. It puts us a step ahead of everyone else."