Events

On the GCAMP Calendar of Events you will find:

  • Career/Job Fairs – These are hiring events, often held in anticipation of an upcoming high school or community college graduation, meant to help graduating students find jobs.   Manufacturers - find your next employees here!
  • Career Expos - (also sometimes called Showcases or Trades Fairs) These events are slightly different from job fairs.   They are geared towards younger students to encourage them to pursue a career in industry.   The students at these events are not seeking jobs yet, but they are looking for information about possibly pursuing careers in industry.   Manufacturers are invited to these events to introduce the next generation to the field of manufacturing. 
  • Mock Interviews -These events are for students to learn interviewing skills.  Industry professionals are needed to help conduct the mock interviews, and employers sometimes find potential real-life hires at mock interviews.
  • Advisory Meetings – These meetings allow industry experts an opportunity to give their input on how educators can refine their programs for current trends and technology.  These are great events to connect industry with education.
  • Competition Judge Requests – Student skills competitions are great ways for members of industry to meet skilled students and educators.  Plus, they are often a fun way for those in industry to volunteer their time and give back to the community. 
  • Awards & Scholarships - Awards refer to contests or competitions for people, frequently students, in manufacturing.  Scholarships on our page are for students to help fund their education beyond high school.   See the scholarship descriptions for more details. 

Do you have an upcoming event that you would like us to add to the GCAMP Events calendar?  Tell us about it! 

Upcoming Events

Mazak 5.6.25 event

Do More With Mazak Midwest

Discover More with Mazak at the Midwest Event.

Mark your calendar for Do More With Mazak Midwest, three-days of machine tool technology, automation and information you won’t want to miss May 6 – 8 at our Midwest Technology Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. 

See 19 live demonstrations that will take your shop to the next level. 

• Full five-axis machines like the next generation VARIAXIS i-700 NEO with a 2-pallet changer 

• CNC vertical machining and turning centers including the high-accuracy HCN-4000 NEO 

• Mazak’s full family of Swiss-type turning machines ranging from 10 to 38mm bar capacities. 

• DONE IN ONE® part processing and Multi-Tasking machines like the INTEGREX i-150 and QT-Ez 10MY with Cobot automation 

Plus, learn more about how to do more and make more with: 

• ‘Looking Forward - Manufacturing 2025’ with Mazak President Dan Janka 

• Technical sessions with our industry and application experts

May 6th, 2025 10:00 AM - May 8th, 2025 02:45 PM

300 Commerce Dr. Schaumburg, IL 60173

Learn more

Naperville 203 logo

The 203 Network Event

The 203 Network event brings together community leaders, business professionals, current volunteers, and new partners eager to help Naperville 203 students. Brought to you by the Workforce Innovation Council, this event provides an opportunity to discover ways to get involved and collaborate with those already making a difference.

When: Thursday, May 8, from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Where: Granite City Food & Brewery, 1828 Abriter Ct, Naperville, IL

Join us to explore how we can continue to empower students, strengthen our workforce pipeline, and create a brighter future for our community. 

Post-Event Invitation: After the networking event, all attendees are invited to walk over to Embassy Suites for Naperville 203's Business INCubatoredu Pitch Night! 

Where: Embassy Suites by Hilton, 1823 Abriter Court, Naperville, IL 60563 

6:00 – 6:45 PM: Student Showcases & Wild Card Presentations
6:45 – 9:00 PM: Pitch Competition  

Come support Naperville 203’s young entrepreneurs as they present their innovative ideas and compete for funding to bring their businesses to life!

May 8th, 2025 04:00 PM - May 8th, 2025 06:00 PM

Granite City Food & Brewery, 1828 Abriter Ct. Naperville, IL

Learn more

Elgin Community College

Manufacturing Student Showcase

We are thrilled to invite you to Elgin Community College's first-ever Manufacturing Student Showcase! This is an open house event that welcomes people of all ages to explore sustainable manufacturing concepts designed and fabricated by ECC’s talented manufacturing students. See how traditional manufacturing practices are shaping the industry's future and discover how ECC’s tailored curriculum aligns with the needs of the local economy.

Help us celebrate the end of the spring semester and kick off summer with delicious summer picnic favorites like burgers and hot dogs and don’t forget to enter the raffle for your chance to win a prize! Bring your family, friends, and colleagues to discover the incredible work happening in ECC’s Manufacturing programs. Please RSVP at elgin.edu/showcase

We look forward to celebrating the creativity and hard work of our students with you. Your presence will not only support these emerging professionals but also strengthen the bonds within our local manufacturing community. 

May 9th, 2025 05:30 PM - May 9th, 2025 07:30 PM

Elgin Community College, Bldg. O, 1770 Spartan Dr, Elgin, IL 60123

Learn more

5.15.25 West Aurora Mock Interviews

Employer Breakfast & Mock Interviews

You are invited to an employer advisory meeting and mock interviews of West Aurora High School Weisner Center students from the Building Trades, Machining and Welding programs.

Who is invited: 
1.) Employers in the Aurora area interested in learning more about the current programming at the Weisner Center in Building Trades, Machining and Welding.
2.) Employers in the Aurora area hiring for positions in Building Trades, Machining and Welding.


Breakfast Agenda
7:30 a.m. - 7:45 a.m. - Check-in with continental breakfast
7:45 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. - Employer advisory meeting for Machining and Welding
8:45 a.m. - 11:06 a.m. - Mock interviews of Machining and Welding students

11:30 a.m. - 12:58 p.m. - Mock interviews of Building Trades and Welding students

1:20 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. - Mock interviews of Building Trades, Machining and Welding students

May 15th, 2025 07:30 AM - May 15th, 2025 02:45 PM

Weisner Center, 1920 W. Galena Blvd. Aurora

Learn more

College of DuPage logo

GADgET Girls

Girls Adventuring in Design, Engineering, and Technology

This two-week camp introduces girls to design and manufacturing processes. Students complete their own projects through guided instruction, explore career paths in manufacturing and engage with women currently working in the field. This program includes at least one field trip. Family members are inviited on the final afternoon as students present their final projects.

Monday to Friday, June 9-20 (no class on Thursday, June 19)

9am-4pm

YEEXC-0002-100, $449

See page 31 for more information.

These camps give students the opportunity to explore the world of manufacturing. Camps include training on industry-standard equipment and field trips to local manufacturing facilities. 

Students should be dropped off and picked up in the Technical Education Center (TEC). A youth aide will be present for sign-in beginning at 8:45am each day. All students must be picked up within 15 minutes of class ending time. Please contact the Continuining Education Youth Coordinator at (630) 942-2208 if before and after supervision is needed. Students should bring a sack lunch.

June 9th, 2025 09:00 AM - June 20th, 2025 04:00 PM

College of DuPage 425 Fawell Blvd, Technical Education Center (TEC), Room 0014. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

Learn more

Past Events

Mazak 5.6.25 event

Do More With Mazak Midwest

Discover More with Mazak at the Midwest Event.Mark your calendar for Do More With Mazak Midwest, three-days of machine tool technology, automation and information you won’t want to miss May 6 – 8 at our Midwest Technology Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. See 19 live demonstrations that will take your shop to the next level. • Full five-axis machines like the next generation VARIAXIS i-700 NEO with a 2-pallet changer • CNC vertical machining and turning centers including the high-accuracy HCN-4000 NEO • Mazak’s full family of Swiss-type turning machines ranging from 10 to 38mm bar capacities. • DONE IN ONE® part processing and Multi-Tasking machines like the INTEGREX i-150 and QT-Ez 10MY with Cobot automation Plus, learn more about how to do more and make more with: • ‘Looking Forward - Manufacturing 2025’ with Mazak President Dan Janka • Technical sessions with our industry and application experts

May 6th, 2025 10:00 AM - May 8th, 2025 02:45 PM

300 Commerce Dr. Schaumburg, IL 60173

Waubonsee logo

Waubonsee Community College Welding Advisory Meeting

The Industry and Technology Division at Waubonsee Community College cordially invites you to attend an Advisory Committee meeting in support of the certificate and degree programs in the Welding Technology Program.  We are seeking your input regarding best practices in the field, equipment and technology needs for the program, and the skills and/or credentials you are seeking in employment candidates. Your feedback is critical for the success of our students. Please consider joining us or sending a representative from your organization.  Visit our website for more details about this program:Welding TechnologyPlease register by clicking here and you will receive a confirmation email. Or you may contact agaspar@waubonsee.edu to register. 

May 1st, 2025 02:00 PM - May 1st, 2025 03:00 PM

Waubonsee Community College -Route 47 @ Waubonsee Drive, Sugar Grove, IL Akerlow Hall--Room 203 (Use the North Entrance)

College of DuPage logo

Technical Education Center (TEC) Spotlight

Event DetailsTour classrooms and labs in the above programsExplore careers and salaries in the industryMeet College of DuPage faculty, equipped with years of industry experienceLearn about paid apprenticeship programs

April 30th, 2025 05:30 PM - April 30th, 2025 07:30 PM

College of DuPage 425 Fawell Blvd, Technical Education Center (TEC), Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

4.30.25 DuPage Student Recruitment

DuPage Student Recruitment Expo

Join us for an exciting opportunity to connect with local employers offering paid internships for summer and beyond! This event is designed to help students acquire career opportunities, network with industry professionals, and take the next step toward their future careers.

April 30th, 2025 09:30 AM - April 30th, 2025 02:30 PM

Technology Center of DuPage- 301 S. Swift Rd., Addison, IL

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VALEES presents - Spark! Career Exploration Event

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, Ninth grade students from Indian Valley Vocational Center sending schools including Earlville, Hinckley-Big Rock, Indian Creek, Leland, Newark, Plano, Sandwich, Somonauk and Yorkville will attend this career exploration event in the gymnasium of the Fox Valley Family YMCA in Plano. It is expected that there will be between 500-600 students attending during the day.VALEES is inviting industry experts, as yourself,  to host a table at the Spark! Career Extravaganza event.  Last year, business people met with freshmen and provided them with an interactive, engaging, hands-on activity to showcase their careers.  From our experience, it is best that a minimum of two business representatives work at each table. All students will have an opportunity to connect with area businesses representing the seven College and Career Pathway Endorsement areas. Students will deepen their understanding of careers available in our community. This is not a job fair, in the sense that you are promoting your employer for hire, but an interactive career expo.  Since this will be a color-coded event, we will provide the tablecloths. Questions?   Contact:Josi MoranCollege and Career Pathway Endorsement CoordinatorOffice 630-466-2953jmoran1@waubonsee.edu  

April 29th, 2025 08:00 AM - April 29th, 2025 02:30 PM

Fox Valley Family YMCA (3875 Eldamain Rd, Plano, IL 60545)