Ivy Tech Community College will welcome area high school students to its Kokomo Campus Oct. 3 in celebration of MFG Day (National Manufacturing Day), offering them an opportunity to see programs offered in technical and industrial fields as well as a chance to learn about careers with employers from the area.
Area high schools and career centers from Ivy Tech Kokomo’s six-county service area are encouraged to register to bring juniors and senior to the event, which is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Representatives of local business and industry are also invited to sign up to attend. Ivy Tech Kokomo serves the residents and businesses in Cass, Fulton, Howard, Miami, Pulaski, and Tipton counties.
“Manufacturing Day 2025 is a great time to talk about the amazing employment opportunities opening up in America’s manufacturing industry,” said David Dukes, dean of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Applied Sciences for Ivy Tech’s Kokomo Service Area. “The need for trained and qualified employees is rapidly expanding right here in north central Indiana manufacturing facilities. Ivy Tech is the state’s premier training partner for jobs and careers in manufacturing, and all the options will be on display at the event.”
National Manufacturing Day was established in 2012 as “a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers.” An initiative of the Manufacturing Institute (the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers), MFG Day is designed to show the reality and future of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging companies and educational institutions to open their doors to students, parents, educators and community leaders.
The Ivy Tech Kokomo open house is among hundreds of events being planned throughout North America as part of the MFG DAY observance. According to organizers, manufacturers will be seeking to fill 4 million high-skill, high-tech and high-paying jobs over the next decade.
Dukes said faculty members, all of whom have a wealth of industry experience in their backgrounds, and current students will share how Ivy Tech is supporting local manufacturing with quality training, hands-on approaches to today’s high-tech manufacturing environment, and upgrading skills of current workers. Visitors will be able to participate in hands-on lab demonstrations in electrical and mechanical, robotics, machine tool, and welding technologies as well as such areas as agriculture, automotive and building trades.
Representatives from local industries will be on hand to share information about career opportunities they can offer. Among the participating employers are Central Midwest Carpenters, FedEx, Haynes International, MW Components, Small Parts, Transco, Tyson Foods, Compal, High Performance Alloys Inc., Stellantis, Marion-Kokomo JATC (IBEW 873), Logan Stampings Inc., Atkore, Heraeus Electro-Nite and Batesville Tool & Die.
For more information, or to register students, schools and career centers should contact Tashawnda Brown-Weston, director of admissions and enrollment for the Ivy Tech Kokomo Service Area, at 765-252-5534 or tlbrown@ivytech.edu . Employers interested in learning more about participating should contact Mari Hernandez, apprenticeship development manager, at 574-398-6097 or mhernandez35@ivytech.edu . Information is also available here. (https://www.ivytech.edu/locations/kokomo/partnerships-special-programs/manufacturing-day/)