Promotion of Manufacturing Careers Starts Before High School
GCAMP Supports Promotion of Manufacturing in Middle School for a smooth transition and in conjunction with area high schools. We cannot wait until high school to educate students and parents about the solid career pathways in manufacturing. GCAMP works to prioritize education and promotion at all secondary school levels, through program support of drones, Vex Robotics, speaking to students and parents at Career Days and other events.
Next Generation Engineers (NGE)
Next Generation Engineers (NGE) is a successful program Township HS District 214 runs to promote Middle School student in fields of STEM, Manufacturing, and Engineering. The program targets girls and underrepresented minorities and is entirely grant funded and operational at five of six district high schools. GCAMP grants help support the NGE expansion programs at Elk Grove High School and John Hersey High School.
This provided hands-on STEM learning experience for a total NGE program outreach of 500 students to be exposed to college and careers in Manufacturing, Engineering, and other STEM areas at an early age. NGE provides hands-on STEM education to 50 middle school students per class in an after-school setting each semester at the high school site. The curriculum challenges, inspires, and offers schools variety and flexibility in instruction. Students in grades 6-8 get rigorous and relevant experiences through activity, project, and problem-based learning. They use industry technology to solve problems while gaining skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.
This provided hands-on STEM learning experience for a total NGE program outreach of 500 students to be exposed to college and careers in Manufacturing, Engineering, and other STEM areas at an early age. NGE provides hands-on STEM education to 50 middle school students per class in an after-school setting each semester at the high school site. The curriculum challenges, inspires, and offers schools variety and flexibility in instruction. Students in grades 6-8 get rigorous and relevant experiences through activity, project, and problem-based learning. They use industry technology to solve problems while gaining skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.
NGE provides a solid foundation for further STEM learning in high school and beyond and aligns the curriculum to the district STEM College and Career Pathways. Within the career clusters are pathways for Manufacturing, Engineering, and STEM.
Goals for the NGE program include:
Eighty-five percent of middle school students who have taken part in the program at Wheeling have chosen a STEM career pathway in high school. Additionally, students in the program have higher GPAs in high school than those who did not participate.
Goals for the NGE program include:
- Increased interest in Manufacturing, Engineering, and STEM learning, and STEM career pathways
- Increased students enrolling in STEM career pathways in high school
Eighty-five percent of middle school students who have taken part in the program at Wheeling have chosen a STEM career pathway in high school. Additionally, students in the program have higher GPAs in high school than those who did not participate.
GEMS — Girls Stem Event
GEMS (Girls interested in Engineering, Math and Science) is an annual program run by volunteer District 211 female math, science and engineering teachers who organize a Saturday event in February for 250 fifth and sixth grade girls to experience a STEM career fair with parents and then five 30-minute hands-on activities lead by female engineers, manufacturers, scientists and mathematicians.
GCAMP grant funds support outreach to fifth and sixth grade girls and their parents from low-income and bilingual families. The parents who travel on the bus with their children participate in a STEM parent day program while their children are in the hands-on sessions. This parent event includes career awareness, a hands-on challenge, and a tour of the resources available to their child when they get to high school. Many bilingual or low-income parents feel disconnected to the school system. This outreach is vital to creating trust and awareness well before students enter high school.
In February 2020, GCAMP hosted a breakout session for GEMS girls featuring 3D pens.
GCAMP grant funds support outreach to fifth and sixth grade girls and their parents from low-income and bilingual families. The parents who travel on the bus with their children participate in a STEM parent day program while their children are in the hands-on sessions. This parent event includes career awareness, a hands-on challenge, and a tour of the resources available to their child when they get to high school. Many bilingual or low-income parents feel disconnected to the school system. This outreach is vital to creating trust and awareness well before students enter high school.
In February 2020, GCAMP hosted a breakout session for GEMS girls featuring 3D pens.
The IEEVC — High Mileage Vehicle Competition
(2020 Cancelled due to the Coronavirus)
The Illinois Energy Efficient Vehicle Competition (IEEVC) is held at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet over a two-day period in early May to provide high school students an opportunity to put their STEM lessons into practice and which helps promote and prepare them for careers in engineering, manufacturing, and automotive. As part of the competition, students design, build, and test a small one-person vehicle with a focus on gasoline mileage or electrical energy efficiency. The vehicle that burns the least amount of fuel wins. The average MPG attained by teams is 100-200 mpg, with some teams achieving 500+ mpg
This is the only HMV competition open for high school students in Illinois. GCAMP has provided a grant for the track rental at Autobahn Country Club since 2017, the first year it was held in Illinois.
The two main goals of the IEEVC are:
2017 – 20 Teams and 200 students
2018 – 70 teams (50 gas/20 electric) and 400 students.
2019 – 58 teams (36 gas/22 electric) and 350 students.
(Inclement weather was a factor in 2019)
The school’s HMV team provides students in the Project Lead the Way, autos, and manufacturing classes with a problem-based learning challenge. There are opportunities for a variation of classes and students to play a different role in the design and building the car. Students in Introduction to Engineering Design are involved in the design the vehicle and creation of initial prototypes while Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Advanced Manufacturing assess the manufacturability and creation of the prototypes and create a final design for competition. The car is built from the ground up. Except for the wheels, brakes, and engine, the entire care is designed, built, and driven completely by students.
Increased manufacturer and other employer engagement is a priority in this activity through their participation in the Illinois Mentor Matching Program. They provide time and resources for the school teams to build their cars and then become more involved in schools as they learn about other programs offered in the community. Corporations and organizations that serve as sponsors will decrease team costs, and ideally school teams will be able to take part with little to no expense, thus increasing access to problem-based learning challenges.
The HMV Competition successfully achieves the main goals of providing Illinois high school students with a problem-based learning challenge using the design and creation of high mileage vehicles, as well as developing and implementing regional strategies for employers to engage in problem-based learning with students.
The Illinois Energy Efficient Vehicle Competition (IEEVC) is held at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet over a two-day period in early May to provide high school students an opportunity to put their STEM lessons into practice and which helps promote and prepare them for careers in engineering, manufacturing, and automotive. As part of the competition, students design, build, and test a small one-person vehicle with a focus on gasoline mileage or electrical energy efficiency. The vehicle that burns the least amount of fuel wins. The average MPG attained by teams is 100-200 mpg, with some teams achieving 500+ mpg
This is the only HMV competition open for high school students in Illinois. GCAMP has provided a grant for the track rental at Autobahn Country Club since 2017, the first year it was held in Illinois.
The two main goals of the IEEVC are:
- Provide Illinois high school students with a problem-based learning challenge utilizing the design and creation of high mileage vehicles.
- Develop and implement regional strategies for employers to engage in problem-based learning.
2017 – 20 Teams and 200 students
2018 – 70 teams (50 gas/20 electric) and 400 students.
2019 – 58 teams (36 gas/22 electric) and 350 students.
(Inclement weather was a factor in 2019)
The school’s HMV team provides students in the Project Lead the Way, autos, and manufacturing classes with a problem-based learning challenge. There are opportunities for a variation of classes and students to play a different role in the design and building the car. Students in Introduction to Engineering Design are involved in the design the vehicle and creation of initial prototypes while Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Advanced Manufacturing assess the manufacturability and creation of the prototypes and create a final design for competition. The car is built from the ground up. Except for the wheels, brakes, and engine, the entire care is designed, built, and driven completely by students.
Increased manufacturer and other employer engagement is a priority in this activity through their participation in the Illinois Mentor Matching Program. They provide time and resources for the school teams to build their cars and then become more involved in schools as they learn about other programs offered in the community. Corporations and organizations that serve as sponsors will decrease team costs, and ideally school teams will be able to take part with little to no expense, thus increasing access to problem-based learning challenges.
The HMV Competition successfully achieves the main goals of providing Illinois high school students with a problem-based learning challenge using the design and creation of high mileage vehicles, as well as developing and implementing regional strategies for employers to engage in problem-based learning with students.
2020 Robot Rumble
Robot Rumble team members work together to design, prototype, and manufacture functional fighting robots. The various teams expose students to real-world design scenarios, and many disciplines. Students competed against a variety of teams from other local high schools in D211 and D214 at the annual Robot Rumble competition.
Funding from the GCAMP grant program established an additional team for competition, as well as strengthening an existing ladies team, and support of a few others. Student interest has increased with the popularity of the program. Many new students become involved each year with most high schools now building 4-6 robots for this competition while learning about the interesting STEM/manufacturing applications of robotics. Total student impact on this event is 400+ students who compete in a 2-day event, which is packed with parent and younger student spectators. CAMP had a table set up with information on manufacturing careers and upcoming events. Between rounds, GCAMP addressed parents about careers, internships and apprenticeships and was on hand throughout to answer questions. Schaumburg HS was this year’s competition winner. The event is live-streamed online.
Funding from the GCAMP grant program established an additional team for competition, as well as strengthening an existing ladies team, and support of a few others. Student interest has increased with the popularity of the program. Many new students become involved each year with most high schools now building 4-6 robots for this competition while learning about the interesting STEM/manufacturing applications of robotics. Total student impact on this event is 400+ students who compete in a 2-day event, which is packed with parent and younger student spectators. CAMP had a table set up with information on manufacturing careers and upcoming events. Between rounds, GCAMP addressed parents about careers, internships and apprenticeships and was on hand throughout to answer questions. Schaumburg HS was this year’s competition winner. The event is live-streamed online.
Manufacturing Open House — BIG KAISER
(2020 Cancelled due to the Coronavirus)
GCAMP holds an annual Manufacturing Open House for students and parents primarily, with a handful of manufacturers and educators, including HS career advisors in attendance.
The 2020 event was scheduled in Mid-March at DMG Mori in Hoffman Estates and was to include a new Student Showcase to display projects for parents and younger students as well as manufacturers to view and discuss. Due to the Coronavirus outbreaks, we will revisit this again, hopefully in 2021.
The last event in April 2019 saw approximately 75 in attendance including 45 students. Beginning with a tour and machine demonstrations, we split the parents and students into two breakout sessions. Students were brought into a training room to work on soft skills, resumes and interview tips while parents were given a presentation on manufacturing to better understand the high skilled and high-tech careers in manufacturing. To end the evening, we brought up a panel of student apprentices, young engineers, and HR directors for a Q&A. It was a different event then earlier open house events to talk with parents about viable manufacturing career pathways and students who need help on resumes and soft skills. Future plans are to hold a second event in late fall for 7-9th grade students to promote interest in the HS manufacturing programs.
GCAMP holds an annual Manufacturing Open House for students and parents primarily, with a handful of manufacturers and educators, including HS career advisors in attendance.
The 2020 event was scheduled in Mid-March at DMG Mori in Hoffman Estates and was to include a new Student Showcase to display projects for parents and younger students as well as manufacturers to view and discuss. Due to the Coronavirus outbreaks, we will revisit this again, hopefully in 2021.
The last event in April 2019 saw approximately 75 in attendance including 45 students. Beginning with a tour and machine demonstrations, we split the parents and students into two breakout sessions. Students were brought into a training room to work on soft skills, resumes and interview tips while parents were given a presentation on manufacturing to better understand the high skilled and high-tech careers in manufacturing. To end the evening, we brought up a panel of student apprentices, young engineers, and HR directors for a Q&A. It was a different event then earlier open house events to talk with parents about viable manufacturing career pathways and students who need help on resumes and soft skills. Future plans are to hold a second event in late fall for 7-9th grade students to promote interest in the HS manufacturing programs.