Coal City High School students attend MFG Day at JJC

MFG DAY is a community supported, career exploration day, created for students to explore how local businesses apply S.T.E.M. skills and concepts from local, real life careers.
The Three Rivers Manufacturers’ Association (TRMA), in partnership with Joliet Junior College (JJC), is hosting MFG DAY-2022. TRMA’s MFG DAY is for 9th – 12th grade students with an interest in a S.T.E.M. career (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) or Applied Technology (CTE) careers or fields of study.
TRMA and JJC will set the stage for the day’s learning opportunities and introduce Aric Jackson, a national youth motivational comedic speaker, to discuss how to “Live Well and Lead Boldly” through goal setting, positive attitude, and developing mentors to achieve success in career and life.
Aric makes it a point to say, “don’t let your box (the past) hold you back,” and will explain how MFG DAY and its numerous STEM demonstrations, and diverse presenters, may be the first step towards a “Live Well and Lead Boldly” career opportunity.
Following the keynote speaker, the students were placed into groups to: Play a fast-paced fun game of Jeopardy, sponsored by Aux Sable, where a panel of experts weave in the value and diversity of the manufacturing industry.
Winning team members receive a prize, an Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker with an IPX6 water resistance rating, and carabiner attachment, to share music with friends.
Explore the display case for demonstrations of applied S.T.E.M., such as, using chemistry to create the “active ingredient” or using light properties to see inside an object. Science combined with technology are the building blocks of modern manufacturing.
So, students are encouraged to participate in pure science demonstrations and to get up close and personal with the science and technology driving the industry.
Get hands-on opportunities for skilled tasks, such as test welding techniques with a virtual welding simulator, or the ability to drive a big machine using a joy stick, or perform a rigging lift. Do your students have the skills to build or maintain the machines and infrastructure that support industry?
These are just a few of the activities offered in the display show case of manufacturing.
Throughout the course of the day, students met and conversed with industry professionals about diverse and rewarding S.T.E.M.-centric careers in manufacturing and related industries.
Moreover, there were education professionals available to help students plan their next step towards an exciting S.T.E.M. related career with options for certificate, associates or bachelors programs.
The goal is to provide the students with the resources to end up in a place that matters which could include a rewarding career in manufacturing.