Arkansas State University - Newport

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October 2019

ASU-Newport hosts 233 students for Manufacturing Day

Arkansas State University-Newport hosted its second annual Manufacturing Day on October 2, 2019. The event coincides with the national Manufacturing Day event on October 4, 2019. 

The day was created to celebrate modern manufacturing and inspire the next generation by showing how they can make a difference through manufacturing. Many misconceptions about manufacturing can be diminished by allowing manufacturers the opportunity to open their doors and show what they do. According to statistics from the National Association of Manufacturers and mfgday.com, it's estimated 3.5 million job openings are expected over the next decade with a growing skills shortage. By visiting and touring manufacturing facilities, students, parents and educators are shown the opportunity and creativity possible in manufacturing. 

Exhibit Room
Students visiting the exhibit room.

Organized by ASU-Newport's Vice Chancellor for Economic Workforce and Development Jeff Bookout, ASUN-Jonesboro and the Workforce Training Center in Jonesboro hosted 233 high school students from schools across the region. Students from Westside, Hoxie, Tuckerman, Paragould, Riverside, Valley View, Marked Tree, Newport, Bay, Jonesboro, Brookland, Trumann, Nettleton and Harrisburg took part in the events. Students and teachers visited one-on-one with manufacturing representatives in the exhibit room, toured ASUN-Jonesboro's campus and toured local manufacturing facilities across Jonesboro. 

Students visiting with Nestle
Students visiting with one of the many manufacturing businesses in the exhibit room. 

Along with the tours, students learned more about different educational opportunities that can prepare them for careers in manufacturing including welding, advanced manufacturing and industrial maintenance. 

This event would not be possible without supportive sponsors that helped supply bags, t-shirts, lunch and door prizes. ASU-Newport would like to thanks ABB, Nestle, Post Consumer Brands, Nice-Pak, Trinity Rail, Butterball, Camfil, Hytrol, Workforce Training Consortium, Unilever, Great Dane, Apex Tools, Southern Cast Products, Arkansas Glass, Anchor Packaging, Jonesboro Unlimited, Frito Lay,  SMA, The Shop-Arkansas State University Innovation System and FMH Conveyors for supporting this annual event. 

Students inside our welding lab.
Students touring ASUN's welding lab.

To learn more about Manufacturing Day click here. To see more photos from the event click here