Penn students participate in Manufacturing Day 2016

Local schools and businesses celebrated Manufacturing Day 2016 on Friday, October 7. Penn High students were among the 600 or more invited into local manufacturing sites that day to explore the education and career opportunities available in our community.

Students from Penn’s STEM Academy plan to visit B&B Molders, Nyloncraft, and Daman Products—three long-standing successful enterprises in Mishawaka.

Our students learned about real career opportunities, training, and resources available locally. They observed that manufacturing is technologically advanced—with ample use of automation, 3-D printing, robots and screen technology—and found out that there are many career opportunities within manufacturing, including human resources, accounting, purchasing, logistics, and more.

The Academies at Penn High School are committed to providing Penn graduates College and Career Readiness. That focus helps students see more clearly how their classroom learning today is building a foundation for their future success—and Manufacturing Day 2016 is just one example of that.  

While Manufacturing Day is recognized across the nation, the Oct. 7 event was the third annual event for the Michiana area.

Josiah Parker, Penn teacher and STEM Academy leader, has been working alongside St. Joe County Chamber of Commerce staff to arrange and promote the day’s activities. 

You can also get Parker’s take on education and manufacturing by watching the WNIT broadcast “Economic Outlook,” which aired Friday Oct. 7.

Other local partners, in addition to Penn High School and SJCOC:

• National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) Michiana Chapter

• Ivy Tech Community College

• Purdue Polytechnic South Bend

• South Bend Community School Corporation Career & Technical Education Career Academy

• Mishawaka High School

Jeff Rea, Chamber CEO: "We are excited by the collaboration between business and education that has driven the local growth of this event and believe in the powerful impact on students when they can SEE the opportunities in our region. Connecting what they're learning in the classroom to a future career can positively influence their education and personal choices and provide focus and inspiration as they envision their future.”

Because the manufacturing sector often experiences a shortage of skilled workers, they look forward to this opportunity to meet and interact with the “next generation” talent.

These businesses and supporting organizations hosted the tours, or were on site at Ivy Tech to share their story with students:

• AAA Tool & Die Company, Inc.

• Allied Specialty Precision. Inc.

• AM General

• Molders

• Bamar Plastics, Inc.

• Bertrand Products  

• Daman Products

• Gates Automotive

• General Stamping and Metalworks, Inc.

• The Lebermuth Company

• Mack Tool & Engineering

• Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MT l) Mossberg & Company Inc.

• North American Signs

• Nyloncraft

• Polygon Company

• RACO

• Rieth Riley

• Schafer Industries, Inc.

• South Bend Electrical JATC Apprenticeship Hall

• South Bend Modern Molding

• Steel Warehouse

• Steel Warehouse Profiling

• Tire Rack

Check out the MFG Day event page on the Chamber website!