AC Graduate Excels as Machine Programmer for Amarillo Gear

Amarillo College Graduate Samuel Bauman started working at Amarillo Gear as a CNC machinist while he was a student at AC. 

The California native was living in Borger when he became aware of Amarillo College’s welding program. 

“I heard it was a great program, so I enrolled to learn more,” he said. “I enjoyed those classes, but when we did a CAD modeling assignment in our machining class, I knew this was what I wanted to do.”

Bauman asked his adviser if it was too late to major in the machining program, he assured him that was fine.

He remembers the machine classes as small, but the employers eager to hire. Employers from Amarillo Gear, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Phillips 66 and others visited the classes.

A short time later, Bauman began working at Amarillo Gear and through his courses at AC and experience, was promoted to a machine programmer. 

“He has done an impressive job for Amarillo Gear,” said Brenda Whitten, a human resources manager at Amarillo Gear. “About nine months into his machining career, AGC offered to train and promote him to a machine programmer.” 

Whitten and his Amarillo Gear supervisors describe Bauman as an amazing employee with a great work ethic.

AC is one of only three Texas colleges accredited by the National Institute of Metalworking Skills. 

“Students achieving what he’s done is why I teach,” AC machining instructor Bob Gustin said. “He’s working with more than 100 machines there and that’s impressive.”

Bauman said he enjoys the team he works with and problem solving the work involves.

Gustin emphasized that his students are not just pursuing jobs, but careers like Bauman is embarking on.

All of AC’s machining classes are delivered at AMTech Career Academy.