Fast Track Hub IL

NFPA’s Fast Track to Fluid Power is a workforce development pathway that partners local technical colleges with fluid power industry members and high school teachers. These networks create awareness and interest in fluid power and train students along a path that leads to careers in fluid power at NFPA member companies.

Illinois members can help build a fluid power educated workforce and industry awareness through hands-on events and activities that benefit middle school, high school, and Triton College students studying fluid power. Illinois members can participate in several events planned for the 2024-25 academic year (see below). If you or colleagues are interested, please contact James Foster at jfoster@nfpa.com.

Workforce Engagement Groups serve as a forum to discuss activities and opportunities designed to connect NFPA members with the Fast Track to Fluid Power and Power Partner programs, giving participating members increased visibility to educational institutions in their region and recruitment opportunities to more successfully interact with students interested in fluid power.

Take part in one Workforce Engagement Group, or all of them, and you will receive targeted information about news updates and activities like this to support your company’s recruitment needs in these regions. 

Illinois Region Opportunities:

• Illinois Workforce Engagement Group Meeting at IEOC:
  • Tuesday, August 13, NFPA will host an in-person Illinois Region Workforce Engagement Group meeting from 8am-9am CT at the NFPA’s Industry & Economic Outlook Conference. A registration link is provided below; an agenda will be shared with registrants prior to the meeting.
  • If unfamiliar with the Illinois Workforce Engagement Group, the meeting enables members and the NFPA’s Workforce Team to identify and discuss opportunities that connect members with fluid power educators and students at Triton College (Fast Track Hub), and middle and high schools that feed into Triton.

• 2024-25 Academic Year Speakers Bureau: Interested in sharing insights about the fluid power industry, career options, and your company with middle school, high school, and Triton College fluid power students? NFPA can connect you with educators seeking speakers for the 2024-25 academic year. For your benefit, NFPA created a presentation template found here.
  • Suggested months for Triton College: November 2024 and March 2025.

• Fall 2024 Fluid Power Action Challenge: Schaumburg School District 54 (SD54) is seeking one member to host/run the event and multiple volunteers to assist on Workshop and Challenge Days. This event will allow you to experience fluid power education in action as students learn about hydraulics, pneumatics, engineering, teamwork, and problem solving through this hands-on, team- based event.
  • Early October Workshop Day: One member to host/run the event and introduce the program to middle school teams. The host will need four or five volunteers to help introduce the challenge and address questions from middle school teams. Resources for hosting/running the event can be found in the Community Wide Competition information found here. Dates/times are TBD for this event.
  • Mid-December Challenge Day: The same member (see above) will host/run the event. The host will need four or five volunteers to judge the competition, review portfolios, and help teams think through final engineering work. Instructions for the portfolio review and judging will be shared at the event.

• October 4th Manufacturing Day: Consider planning and hosting a facility/plant tour for Illinois Fast Track to Fluid Power high school students. The event can help build awareness for your company, open positions, and allow the future workforce to better understand what it is like to work in fluid power related roles. James Foster is happy to share your event information with Illinois’ Fast Track to Fluid Power High Schools.

• January 2025 Scouting Fluid Power Kit Build at Triton College: Seeking one volunteer to help introduce fluid power to middle and high school students and help them think through engineering questions related to the build.
  • Location: Triton College, T-Building, River Grove, IL. Date TBD.

• January – March 2025 Ridgewood High School Fluid Power Action Challenge: Multiple volunteers are needed to assist Ridgewood educators and participating middle school teams. You will experience fluid power education in action as students learn about hydraulics, pneumatics, engineering, teamwork, and problem solving through this hands-on, team- based event and award ceremony.
  • Workshop Day: Seeking one or two volunteers to help introduce the program to middle school teams. Either month of January or February 2025. Dates and times are TBD.
  • January – March 2025 Team’s Machine Design & Build: Seeking two to four volunteers to help middle school teams think through the “research, design, and build stage” over a few dates (flexible options).
  • Mid-March 2025, Challenge Day at Ridgewood High School: Seeking seven to eight volunteers to judge the competition, review portfolios, and help teams think through final engineering work. Judging and portfolio review instructions will be provided at the event.
    • (Date TBD, 11:30am – 3:30pm CT, Norridge, IL)