Dozens of seventh and eighth-grade students at the Toledo Technology Academy of Engineering were crowding around tables, taking a glimpse of what their careers in engineering could look like after high school.

Eager students such as Zachary Simmons, 12, were learning about different types of careers in engineering as a part of Manufacturing Day at the West Toledo academy on Wednesday.

Thirteen companies such as First Solar, Principle Business Enterprises, Toth Industries, Designetics, and Toledo Tool and Die waited at tables in the school’s library to teach the students about their companies and the jobs they offer.

Zachary wants to be either a software engineer or a technical engineer, he said.

He enjoys coding because his class did a lot of it when he was in sixth grade, the young student said, mentioning that the various companies that visited the academy opened his eyes to the many career paths he could take in engineering.

“I haven’t even seen these jobs before this,” Zachary said.

Manufacturing Day was created out of a partnership between the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Toledo Technology Academy of Engineering, said Sara Swisher, vice president of talent and workforce at Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber hosts the Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance, which is a coalition of manufacturers in the region looking to increase career awareness and solve workforce challenges, she said.

“Obviously our partnership with TTA is a great opportunity for us to talk about manufacturing careers as well as get kids excited, show that it’s innovative, it’s safe, and it’s a really progressive industry to be able to have a great job in,” Ms. Swisher said.

Toledo Public Schools Superintendent Romules Durant said events such as Manufacturing Day are a great way for students to not only learn about the different careers in engineering but also to build relationships with people in the field they’re interested in.

“A child is only as strong as the resources that surround them,” Mr. Durant said.

“When they’re able to develop their own support system, meaning developing relationships with industry partners, they take business cards, they take information, whatever else there may be,” he said.

“And they find themselves doing year-long internships, month-long internships, whatever it may be,” Mr. Durant said. “They’re getting exposed to the industry itself. That gives them a leg up when it comes to employment opportunities within that company.”

Amy Reinmeyer and Chandler Haar with Toledo Tool and Die, a family-owned automotive supplier, talked to the students about the careers they could take in automotive engineering as well as what the company does.

Toledo Tool and Die has supplied popular automotive brands such as Rivian and Tesla, she said.

“We’ve been talking a little bit about some of the different paths a career in this field could offer like being a welding technician or maintenance apprenticeships,” Mrs. Reinmeyer said. “Some of the kids have already come through and said that they had no courses on welding and that they might be a fit for what they’re looking for. This is our future workforce.”

Kristine Waslar, who’s a specialist in workforce development for First Solar, educated students on the company’s work on solar panels and how they work.

Several students crowded around her table to watch how solar panels supply energy.

She used small fans connected to tiny solar panels to demonstrate their uses.

“This age range is truly my favorite because they have no clue what they want to do yet,” Ms. Waslar said. “Even here, they don’t know where they want to go and just look at the options they have. They’re still exploring what they like, what they don’t like, what they’re interested in. Talking to them about a company like First Solar is amazing.”

First Published October 4, 2023, 8:34 p.m.