Get Involved and Recruit Students out of NFPA’s Illinois Fast Track Hub

One of NFPA’s strategic priorities is to increase the number of fluid power educated technicians and engineers. Our Fast Track to Fluid Power program is one of the workforce development initiatives conducted to fill that need. A Fast Track Hub centers on a technical or community college with a validated fluid power and mechatronics degree program. The program aims to foster a productive partnership between technical colleges, NFPA’s industry partners, and students and faculty in local middle schools and high schools.

Members are invited to participate in the following ongoing opportunities and future events unique to the Illinois region. Each can help increase your company’s visibility with students and educators surrounding Triton Community College, NFPA’s Illinois Fast Track HUB, and build awareness for the fluid power industry.

• Current Opportunities:

• • • Participate in NFPA’s Speaker’s Bureau at Illinois Partner Schools
      • Speaker’s Bureau is an opportunity to inspire and excite students about career opportunities in the fluid power industry
      • Ridgewood High School – preferred days: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
      • Triton College’s Engineering and Technology Classes: February, April, and May
      • Jacobs High School – Industrial Technology Course Algonquin, IL
      • NFPA is happy to connect you with our partner schools

• • • Ridgewood High School Fluid Power Action Challenge – Volunteers Needed
      • Fluid Power Action Challenge is a hands-on, team-based machine build challenge that introduces students to fluid power, the industry, and member companies
      • Volunteers are needed to assist with the following:
      • January 19- March 15: help teams think through engineering problems during the machine design and build stage
      • March 20 (12:30pm-3pm CT) judge the competition and help teams think through engineering problems
      • March 20 (around 5pm CT): share your journey into fluid power, information about your company, and potential career paths in a 20–30-minute presentation to teams
        Increase your hiring reach and connect with Triton’s educators and students, especially students in the Mechatronics and Mechanical Design courses

• • • Team-Based Competition (TBC) Learning – New IL State Board of Education Program
      • Illinois State Board of Education is implementing a Team Based competition learning at the high school level. Ridgewood High School is an early adopter of the program
      • TBC is designed to help students learn soft and technical skills in a team-based competition that includes industry in the planning and student evaluation
      • Ridgewood is interested in implanting a t-shirt canon project as an option and needs input from NFPA members to get started
      • Please share this opportunity with colleagues
        

• • • March 6 Triton Career Fair (2000 Fifth Avenue, River Grove, IL)
      • Promote career opportunities and internships to Triton students, alumni, and community members
      • A $100 employer registration fee covers lunch for two recruiters and use of a 6-ft table plus two chairs
      • Please reply with questions and to request Triton’s event registration link

Contact James Foster (JFoster@nfpa.com) to volunteer or learn more about these opportunities and events. Similar activities are taking place in the other Fast Track Hub regions. Click here to join a Workforce Engagement Group and stay informed of the latest opportunities to recruit and engage with emerging talent in the regions.