SENECA — Industry and education patted each other on the back Tuesday night, calling on each other for support during a well-attended dinner at Gignilliat Center.

The event kicked off the 2008 Oconee County Industrial Group (OCIG) Showcase, which continues with exhibits open to the public at the Shaver Recreation Complex from 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. today. Some 1,000 students are also expected to view manufacturing exhibits that range from automotive parts to light aircraft and injection molding to packaging.

Tuesday night, however, was all about the developing partnership between the Oconee County school system and the manufacturing community. A crowd estimated at 300 gathered under a banner bearing the theme, “Industry and education, a great combination.”

Larry Smith, operations manager at Square D and president of the OCIG, implored educators in attendance to keep the importance of preparing for good manufacturing jobs in the forefront of their students’ minds.

“A high quality, well-educated work force is an absolute must,” Smith said.

“Education is the key to properly preparing our students for success in the global marketplace,” chimed in BorgWarner vice president of operations Todd Bennington. “We need each other more than ever.”

Bennington said it is too late to reach students when they are in high school and urged the dozens of teachers in attendance to start introducing productive job opportunities to youngsters in middle school.

“We need you to let your students know that working in manufacturing is an admirable career goal,” Bennington said.

A video presentation included vignettes on several area manufacturers and pointed out that Fortune 500 companies operating in Oconee have invested more than $300 million in recent years. Manufacturing provides one-in-four jobs in the county, pays $230 million in wages, $60 million in benefits and contributes more than $6.2 million in taxes.

“Please keep manufacturing jobs in front of your students,” Bennington said. “It’s not always about a four-year degree.”

Other speakers included representatives of Tri-County Technical College; the state’s regional career center; Karen Rollins, president of the Silver Crescent Foundation; and Oconee County schools Superintendent Michael Lucas.

“Manufacturing is a good way to make a living in South Carolina,” Rollins said, “but cooperation and collaboration are going to be required to influence young people in how to prepare for their future.”

Lucas applauded the teachers in attendance and told manufacturers not to paint all educators with the same brush.

“Every single day these people are helping our kids prepare,” he said after asking teachers to stand.

“We’re going to work together as a community to make our students productive citizens and to be sure that you get a good return on your investment in the schools in Oconee County.”