Blackhawk Technical College will host its seventh Manufacturing Day in partnership with the Stateline Manufacturing Alliance (SMA). The event is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on local employers, education pathways, and career opportunities.
This year’s Manufacturing Day will take place from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at Blackhawk’s Innovative Manufacturing Education Center (IMEC) on its Beloit-Janesville Campus. The event will host over 250 high school students from area school districts in Rock and Green counties who will get to see Blackhawk’s programs and meet with more than two dozen manufacturing partners from the SMA.
“Manufacturing Day is a chance for students to see the future of technology and skilled trades up close. At Blackhawk Technical College, we’re opening our labs so high school visitors can experience industrial robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing equipment firsthand. These hands-on opportunities highlight the great career pathways available in manufacturing, transportation, technology, and maintenance—careers that power our communities and build our future,” said Peter Dettmer, Manufacturing, Apprenticeship, Technology, and Transportation Dean at Blackhawk.
Manufacturing Day is part of a national effort to inspire students to pursue careers in manufacturing. During the event, students will take tours of the IMEC facility, learn about manufacturing career pathways, and engage with local manufacturing employers to learn about specific careers. Students will also learn about options to get started while in high school, including Youth Apprenticeship, Internship, and Job Shadow programs.
During and after high school, students can take advantage of “earn and learn” opportunities. Many students currently enrolled in manufacturing-related programs at Blackhawk are supported by industry partners through youth and registered apprenticeships, internships, and tuition reimbursement programs.
Blackhawk’s aim is to bring more exposure to manufacturing education and career opportunities while highlighting its partnerships with local industry employers through the SMA.
As part of the Manufacturing Day event, one of the student rotations at Blackhawk will include visiting with local manufacturers (listed below) to explore careers in the industry. In addition, the job fair will be open to both Blackhawk students and the public.
Participating companies include:
- Baker Manufacturing
- BlueScope
- The Caldwell Group
- The Campbell’s Company
- Fairbanks Morse Defense
- Generac
- GOEX Corporation
- Ingersoll Machine Tools, Inc.
- Job Center
- Jones Dairy Farm
- Kuhn North America
- The Morse Group
- PepsiCo-Frito Lay
- Prent Corporation
- Scot Forge
- Spacesaver Corporation
- Spherion Staffing & Recruiting
- SSI Technologies, LLC
- Stateline Manufacturing Alliance
- Stoughton Trailers
- Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board
- United Alloy
- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Rock County
- Westlake Pipe & Fittings
Thank you to the many local sponsors who make Manufacturing Day at Blackhawk Technical College possible, including our lead sponsors, Stateline Manufacturing Alliance and Generac.
Celebrated annually on the first Friday in October, with events continuing throughout the month and beyond, Manufacturing Day is a national grassroots movement that demonstrates the reality and future of modern manufacturing careers. Thousands of companies and educational institutions nationwide are invited to open their doors to students, parents, educators, and community leaders