First lady Jill Biden came to the Hudson Valley Friday to celebrate the opening of a new advanced manufacturing lab at Dutchess Community College.

Biden helped unveil the college's mechatronics lab, the first of its kind in the region.

Mechatronics is technology that combines electronics and mechanical engineering.

Students can earn two-year-degrees and will be trained for jobs in fields such as HVAC technology, motor-controls and robotics.

Dr. Biden says this model works for various industries with severe worker-shortages, and for students.

“I'm so excited to see how this work changes people’s lives, because for most people, a high school diploma alone isn't enough to find a great career," says Biden.

Through the lab programs, college leaders expect to prepare 500 students for technical jobs over the next three years.