WATERTOWN, S.D. (KXLG) – United States Senator John Thune visited Lake Area Tech Thursday afternoon, toured many different programs and spoke to instructors, staff and students about how important technical education is to our state.

Thune spent a majority of the time in the Manufacturing Education building where he toured the various programs including Energy Operations, Welding Technology and the Robotics Lab.

Mike Cartney the President at Lake Area Technical Institute said that Thune is a huge advocate for not only workforce, but also the students as well.

Technical education is more important now than ever before according to Cartney, and says support at the Federal Level is critical.

Senator Thune says that Lake Area Tech has gotten it right when it comes to giving students the skill sets they need to advance.

Lake Area Tech is filling the need that South Dakota employers are looking for according to Thune.

The United States Senate is not in session this week. They will reconvene on Oct. 15.