Southland STEM students electrify participants at SouthWorks Engineering and Robotics Showcase

From left: 19th District Chief Of Staff Cassandra J. Matz, South Suburban College President Don Manning, Former Prairie State College Dean Chuck Jenrich, Prairie State College President Dr. Terri L. Winfree and a local manufacturer provide support for the 4/15/16 SouthWorks Engineering and Robotics Showcase event at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights.

Ten Southland high schools and maker labs from South Suburban College, Prairie State College and Park Forest showcased Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) talent at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights on 4/15/16. The  SouthWorks Engineering and Robotics Showcase event also featured 15 or more Calumet Green Manufacturer Program employers and potential mentors and more than 100 other participants. The goal of the event was for regional manufacturing and logistics companies to learn what the local high school STEM programs are currently accomplishing, particularly in the area of robotics. That’s the branch of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing.

Local manufacturing companies had opportunities to interact with school teams, support their career readiness efforts, learn about their existing engineering and robotics programs and help inspire a new Southland Robotics Challenge competition for next year. Parents, teachers, community members, and other regional schools also attended. More photos are here. A related story is here in the Tribune/Daily Southtown.

The Calumet Green Manufacturing Partnership (CGMP) is designed to help manufacturing companies located in the Calumet and Southland region of Chicago acquire skilled CNC operators with MSSC and NIMS credentials. CGMP training programs include welding, computerized machine tool operation and programming (CNC machine technology). Click here to watch a brief video overview.

Participating Schools and Maker Labs Crete Monee High School Homewood Flossmoor High School Bloom High School Bloom Train High School Rich East High School Thornton Fractional North High School Thornton Fractional South High School Thornton Township Thornwood High School Bremen High School Prairie State College South Suburban College SouthWorks MakerLab in Park Forest