With National Manufacturing Month coming to a close, the Galesburg Area Vocational Center will hold a Trade and Manufacturing Expo Thursday.
Hundreds of students of District 205 and many surrounding school districts are expected to flood GAVC’s parking lot at 940 West Fremont St. for the expo where area employers will give students insight into the opportunities that are available to them. The expo will also showcase the offerings that are available at the GAVC.
“We know kids are all about the hands-on activities and the interactive stuff, so we’ve encouraged our industry partners to have that stuff,” GAVC Director Adam Seany told WGIL earlier in the month. “Sandburg is going to have their mobile welding lab out there. [John] Deere typically brings theirs.”
In a video to the district last Friday, Seany said that over 900 students from Galesburg and surrounding school districts had signed up to attend the expo. He said he hoped by Thursday’s expo that a thousand would sign up.
Seany says that several employers, including Russell Construction, Martin Sullivan, and Birkey’s Farm Store will be attending. “We’ve invited area schools. We’ve invited all our students at GHS. We’re hoping for a huge turnout. We’ve got several companies that have been invited we’ve got several that plan to be there… Pegasus, Jupiter, Heat and Control, Derby Industries, Mangieri Electric…”
The event runs from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The GAVC offers a full range of opportunities to students with hands-on experience in culinary arts, CNC manufacturing, computer systems and technology, and even fire science.