NCDMM Also to Award Two Cash Scholarships
Blairsville, Pa. — October 10, 2017. The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) proudly announces that to commemorate national Manufacturing Day (MFG Day observed October 6th), it will be a participant and sponsor of The Challenge Program, Inc.’s upcoming Polytechnic Career Awareness Event to be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Blairsville High School.
NCDMM joins QNS Recruiting and the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce as sponsors of this unique forum presented by The Challenge Program to educate students and parents about the highly-skilled “polytechnic” (many technologies) occupations available in the Indiana County region, as well as the training and education needed to take advantage of these career opportunities.
“NCDMM is proud and honored to participate in an event that serves to celebrate Manufacturing Day and to educate the next generation of the opportunities available in the technical fields,” said Ralph Resnick, NCDMM President and Executive Director. “Our mission at NCDMM is to deliver innovative and collaborative manufacturing solutions that enhance our nation’s workforce and economic competitiveness. By participating and sponsoring The Challenge Program’s Polytechnic Career Awareness Event, we hope to help inspire Indiana County students to pursue careers in the fields—manufacturing, health care, energy, information technology, and other skilled trades—that are critical to our nation’s continued economic success.”
Additionally, NCDMM will award two, cash scholarships, one (1) in the amount of $500 and one (1) in the amount of $250, to two students who attend the event and complete an application. Any student who registers and meets requirements is eligible for the scholarships.
According to The Challenge Program, traditional, blue-collar jobs are now known as “gold-collar” jobs because the positions offer family-sustaining wages, have become highly skilled and technical, and provide innovative and stimulating work environments. Moreover, many of these jobs do not require the traditional, four-year postsecondary schooling, but rather, a mix of technical training and education. In fact, students can prepare for these positions by attending local career and technology centers while they are still in high school and/or while pursuing post-secondary education.
Admission to the Polytechnic Career Awareness Event is free and open to all Indiana County residents and high school students from any of the seven school districts and the Indiana County Technology Center (ICTC). Students are encouraged to attend with their parents. A panel of success stories, regional employers, and resources are scheduled for the event.
Of the impact this event will have on Indiana County students, Regina Geesey, Blairsville-Saltsburg School District (B-SSD) Director of Student Services said, “With excellent partners like NCDMM, headquartered in Blairsville, and other regional technical companies and trade schools, we are thrilled to be hosting this inaugural event at our Blairsville High School and provide career awareness to students and their families.”
The event format will be divided into two sessions. The first session will include a brief welcome to discuss the changing and current workforce needs in our communities and the availability of family-sustaining careers. Directly following will be a second, Q&A session with a “Polytechnic Success Story Panel”. The “Polytechnic Success Story Panel” is a panel of individuals who have had success with the career and educational pathways being focused on at this event. Parents, educators, and students will have the opportunity to ask questions to the panelists about their careers, and the education and resources that helped to get them there.
The remainder of the event will be a career-fair style of networking with regional employers and the available education and training resources to gain entry into these careers. Act 48 credits are available to educators attending the event.
In addition to NCDMM, QNS Recruiting, and the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce, the event will also feature these exhibitors: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT); Carpenters Training Center; College in High School, University of Pittsburgh; WyoTech; Pennsylvania State Police; Triangle Tech Inc.; Indiana County Technology Center (ICTC); Pittsburgh Technical College; Value Drug Company; H&W Global Industries, Inc.; Pennsylvania College of Technology (Penn College); and MGK Technologies, Inc.
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About NCDMM
NCDMM delivers innovative and collaborative manufacturing solutions that enhance our nation’s workforce and economic competitiveness. NCDMM has extensive knowledge and depth in manufacturing areas—both commercial and defense—continually innovate, improve, and advance manufacturing technologies and methodologies. Our experienced team specializes in identifying the needs, the players, the technologies, and processes to attain optimal solutions for our customers. We connect the dots. That’s the NCDMM methodology. NCDMM also manages the national accelerator for additive manufacturing (AM) and 3DP printing (3DP), America Makes—the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute. For additional information, visit the NCDMM at NCDMM.org.
About Manufacturing Day
Supported by a group of industry sponsors and co-producers, Manufacturing Day is designed to amplify the voice of individual manufacturers and coordinate a collective chorus of manufacturers with common concerns and challenges. The rallying point for a growing mass movement, Manufacturing Day empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges so they can help their communities and future generations thrive. Created by founding partner, Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) in 2012, Manufacturing Day has enjoyed support from many organizations that have played a vital role in growing this national celebration of all things manufacturing. Manufacturing Day is now produced annually by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) with key contributions and support from the Manufacturing Institute. For more information, visit mfgday.com.
About The Challenge Program, Inc.
The Challenge Program, Inc.’s mission is to build sustainable Business/Education partnerships while introducing students to careers in their own communities. This partnership contributes to workforce and economic development by motivating students to develop the solid work habits required to succeed in school and in their future careers. Founded in 2003 and based in Johnstown, Pa., The Challenge Program, Inc. carries out its mission of building Business/Education partnerships and motivating high school students through in-school assemblies and ceremonies, and communication between businesses, educators, students. For more information, visit tcpinc.org.