Mastering the Future

Recently, more than 6,500 of the nation’s most skilled students converged on Atlanta for SkillsUSA’s National Leadership & Skills Conference—the Olympics of career and technical education. Amid the buzz of competition, one team stands out not just for its medals, but for its mission: Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School, powered by Mastercam, is redefining what it means to train the workforce of tomorrow.

Inside a 12,000-square-foot shop in Fall River, Massachusetts, students at Diman don’t just learn machining; they live it. “Eat, sleep, machine,” says lead instructor and program alumnus Kurt Chouinard. “That’s the mentality. And Mastercam is at the heart of everything we do.”

Chouinard, who began his career as a manual machinist and now leads one of the most advanced high school CNC programs in the country, is on a mission to show students, and the world, just how powerful this trade can be. He has no formal education or training in programming and in fact, taught himself through online videos and designed his curriculum with the help of CAM Instructor and Mastercam’s YouTube channel.

Inside Diman’s shop, students train on full-size equipment from Haas, Doosan, Mazak, and more. They begin with longhand G-code programming, then move into CAM using Mastercam to build deeper understanding of the full process. The school’s co-op program connects juniors and seniors with more than 50 companies, where students earn real pay, often around $20 per hour, while building professional skills in aerospace, defense, and medical manufacturing.

“Some of our best students even choose to stay in the shop to keep expanding their training,” Chouinard explains. “Here, they get exposure to every machine and every challenge.

Mastercam: More than just Software

At the core of the program’s success is Mastercam. Every student at Diman learns to write code longhand before transitioning to CAM programming, and Mastercam’s user-friendly tools, training videos, and stellar support have made it a game-changer in the classroom.

“Mastercam gives us real-world relevance,” says Chouinard. “Nine out of ten companies on our advisory board use it. Our students are walking into job sites already fluent in the software employers rely on.”

He also credits Mastercam’s education team for making professional-grade post processors accessible to schools like Diman. “A few years ago, we upgraded our machines using a $2 million Skills Capital Grant. Getting the right posts was tough at first, but Mastercam has completely changed the game for educators. Now it’s plug and play.”

SkillsUSA: The Ultimate Testing Ground

Diman’s performance at SkillsUSA has been exceptional. In recent years, the school has claimed multiple national medals, including a first-ever gold in Automated Manufacturing earned by an all-female team Chouinard affectionately calls “The Golden Girls.” This year, six students will compete in events ranging from CNC programming to five-axis machining.

Students face new challenges each year as competition standards evolve. Most recently, competitors are now required to handle full setup and fixture design in CAM. “That’s why I was training over the weekend,” says Chouinard. “If I’m not learning, I can’t lead.”

“I am proud to work with four fantastic Tradesman who are all Diman grads! My professional colleagues; who are the team that develop our students into the amazing individuals that they are and become,” Chouinard continued. “Much of the reason why our program is so successful is because of our teamwork collaboration and cohesiveness. That truly shines through in our students.”

Challenging the Stigma

Despite the school’s success, Chouinard still encounters skepticism about manufacturing careers. “People hear ‘manufacturing’ and walk away,” he says. “But our students are making surgical tools, aerospace parts, and defense components. These are high-skill, high-impact jobs.”

He recently wrote to trades advocate Mike Rowe, urging more visibility for machinists. “We’re not just pressing buttons. We’re solving problems. We’re building the future.”

Diman’s shop walls are covered with nearly 80 banners honoring SkillsUSA medalists. Students have helped restore parts for local landmarks, manufactured commemorative coins for contractors, and even contributed parts to a university race car program. It’s proof that the work they do in class translates directly to the real world.

At SkillsUSA 2025 in Atlanta, Chouinard and his students did not just to compete. They took the lead. “We’re training future leaders in manufacturing,” he said. “And with Mastercam by our side, we’re building something that lasts.”