Enid Buzz | Tuesday, October 4, 2016
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ENID, Okla. - Autry Technology Center is hosting Manufacturing STEM Day October 7, 2016. This nation-wide event connects high school juniors and seniors from Autry’s 10 area partner schools, as well as students in full-time programs at Autry Tech, with local manufacturing companies to show how manufacturing has changed. Over 2 thousand students will visit with over 35 area companies at this year’s event. The public is also welcome to attend anytime between 11 am and 12:15 pm.
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Manufacturing supports more than 17.4 million U.S. jobs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that at least 8.65 million U.S. STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) jobs will be added by 2018. With 80 percent of the current manufacturing workforce being between the age of 45 and 65, there is a demand to recruit the next generation of workers.
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“A local skills gap exists because many students fail to prepare for the quality jobs that are available in the Garfield County area,” said Brady McCullough, Autry Technology Center Superintendent. “Autry Tech is working to close this skills gap by first exposing students to the opportunities to train for local jobs, and secondly, helping them realize the opportunities to grow careers and raise their families here at home.”
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A skills gap happens when workers do not have the skills that match those needed for open jobs. Autry provides training for individuals to be able to find work in these jobs which include manufacturing and STEM.
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Weber Player, with Dense Mechanical and Dense Comfort Solutions, will speak to students on Manufacturing STEM Day about the area workforce and economic development. Player has recently become a student at Autry Technology Center in the Air Conditioning/Refrigeration program to further his knowledge and skills to provide the best service possible to his customers.
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Additionally, the 2 thousand students in attendance will hear presentations from over 35 of Autry’s business and industry partners. Companies will bring technology to show students during their presentations including GEFCO and their DP2000 and 30k portable drilling rig, Brueggemann’s Nightmare Chassis 600cc Modified car, and St. Mary’s EKG Machine. Over 500 students will win prizes for completing a scavenger hunt through a mobile app. This scavenger hunt will allow the students to use technology to interact with the businesses, learn facts about them and share their experience to social media.
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“We hope this event will open the eyes of students to discover the possible career opportunities available to them in manufacturing and STEM,” said Mandy Mayberry, director of communications, marketing and recruiting at Autry. “The future of manufacturing is growing and changing rapidly. We want to help close the skills gap and equip the future generation to succeed in this thriving market.”
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A few of the local businesses that will be in attendance include KOCH Nitrogen, GEFCO, AdvancePierre Foods, Aircraft Structures, Integris BASS Baptist, Parrish Manufacturing, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Oxbow, Envirotech, and Brueggemann Engineering. If you or your business is interested in participating or attending, you can contact Mandy Mayberry at 580-242-2750 or by email at mmayberry@autrytech.edu.
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Autry to Host Manufacturing STEM Day
