MFG Day 2021 Highlights Education, Careers, and Partnerships

Blackhawk Technical College is excited to host Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) in-person this year. The annual event has been a continued success, shining a spotlight on local employers, education pathways, and career opportunities.

This year’s MFG Day will take place on Tuesday, October 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Blackhawk’s state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (AMTC) facility in Milton, WI. The event will host approximately 300 high school students from 12 school districts in Rock and Green County. In addition, approximately 20 manufacturing partners from the newly created Stateline Manufacturing Alliance (SMA) will be participating.

MFG Day is part of a national effort to inspire students to pursue careers in manufacturing. “It is a wonderful collaboration between employers, the school districts, and our workforce economic groups to bring awareness of the great career opportunities in manufacturing and showcase the many career paths available right in our own backyard,” said Greg Phillips, Manufacturing, Apprenticeship, Technology, and Transportation Dean at Blackhawk Technical College.

During the event, students will take tours of the AMTC facility, learn about manufacturing career pathways, and engage with local manufacturing employers to learn about specific careers. In addition, students will learn about options to get started while in high school, including Youth Apprenticeship, Internship, and Job Shadow programs. After high school, students can take advantage of “earn and learn” models. In fact, the majority of students currently attending a manufacturing-related program at Blackhawk are sponsored by industry partners through Apprenticeship, Internship, and other Tuition Reimbursement programs.

Blackhawk is looking forward to bringing more exposure to manufacturing education and career opportunities while highlighting our partnerships with local industry employers through the SMA.

The event schedule is staggered this year to allow for physical distancing. All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear face masks in BTC classrooms and labs. Face masks are also required for in-person gatherings where physical distancing is not possible.

The list of participating employers and school districts may be found below.

2021 Participating Employers

• Baker Manufacturing
• BlueScope
• Campbells
• Fairbanks Morse Defense
• Freedom Graphic Systems
• Frito Lay
• Coextruded Plastic Technologies/Green-Tek
• Hormel
• Jones Dairy Farm
• North American Pipe Corporation
• NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC
• Novares
• Provisur
• RWS Design and Controls, Inc.
• SHINE Medical Technologies
• SSI Sintered
• Scot Forge
• Seneca Foods
• Serta Simmons
• Stainless Tank & Equipment
• Stoughton Trailers
• United Alloy

2021 Participating High Schools

• Beloit Memorial High School
• Clinton High School
• Craig High School
• Edgerton High School
• F.J. Turner High School
• Milton School District
• Parker High School
• Rock River Charter School
• Rock University High School
• South Beloit High School
• TAGOS/ARISE
• The Lincoln Academy