Twenty-two manufacturers around Hillsborough County celebrated Manufacturing Day 2019 on October 4 by opening their doors to more than 650 students. FLATE (Florida Advanced Technological Education Center) and BAMA (Bay Area Manufacturers Association) led these efforts, coordinating with the School District of Hillsborough County and recruiting manufacturing industry leaders to host the tours, which gave students a taste of what a career in manufacturing can look like. Students were introduced to current projects and even got to work on some projects of their own, designing drones and more. “The kids really, really enjoy the hands-on, kinesthetic projects where they’re collaborating with each other and they’re using the things that they learned…and they’re applying them,” shared Daniel Mills, a teacher at Madison Middle School in Hillsborough County.

These tours were part of a much larger celebration, as counties across the nation honored Manufacturing Month this October with similar tours and events. It’s all part of a greater movement to prepare this young generation for the opportunities awaiting them in the workforce. As manufacturing advances, more and more positions are opening that require highly-skilled workers.

Seeing manufacturing in action helps to change students’ perceptions of the industry, showing them how modern and innovative it truly is. This kind of exposure encourages them to pursue careers in manufacturing and in the meantime, as Mills explained, “It really gets them excited about school.”

Categorized in: Careers, Education