Keil Koehler
By Daniel E. McGonigle
General Manager
The Caledonia Argus
Miller Ingenuity awarded the second place prize for The Miller Ingenuity Challenge on Thursday, January 15 at their Winona factory to Houston High School mathematics and industrial arts teacher Kiel Koehler.
Koehler’s response to the question, “How Might American Manufacturers Attract the Best and Brightest Innovative Minds to Pursue Careers in the Manufacturing Industry” won him $2,000.
In addition, Miller Ingenuity surprised Koehler and his five students who joined him for the award ceremony, with an additional $5,000 for Houston High School to purchase equipment or supplies that will help students further their studies in the industrial arts so that they can pursue careers in manufacturing upon graduation.
That check was presented to Houston High School principal Todd Lundberg.
“I must admit that I was pretty excited when I learned that someone from our region had placed in our national contest,” Steve Blue, CEO and President of Miller Ingenuity said. “When we read his submission, after the judges had completed their work, I was touched with his passion to pique high school students’ interest in this industry by giving them real hands-on experiences. It was then I suggested we invite him and some of his students to tour Miller Ingenuity and to award $1,000 to Houston High School to buy what they need to further their learning. But in the brainstorm session today with the students I decided they should receive $5,000. They had some really ingenious ideas!”
Koehler and his group of students gathered in the new “Creation Station” recently completed at Miller Ingenuity.
