50 Illinois High School Students Awarded at TMA’s Precision Machining Competition

Almost 300 students from 22 northern Illinois high schools competed May 9 in the Technology & Manufacturing Association’s (TMA) 28^th annual Precision Machining Competition, a contest designed to encourage students to pursue high paying careers in advanced manufacturing.

Held at Mazak Corp.’s Midwest Technology Center in Schaumburg, Illinois, the competition recognized 50 students for their excellent work in machining projects such as CAD design, sine bar, grinding vice, CNC turning, CNC milling, CNC CAM, and CNC programming. Out of the 50 winners, seven students received perfect scores and five were women.

U.S. Education Deputy Assistant Secretary Dr. Casey Sacks, TMA leadership, parents, instructors and company representatives were in attendance as students received their awards and explored possible job opportunities with area manufacturers.

“This year’s Precision Machining Competition broke many barriers,” says TMA Chairman Rich Hoster. “The next generation of manufacturers continues to increase which means our industry of makers and doers will continue to thrive. These students have an incomparable opportunity to enter high-paying, high-performance jobs in high-tech manufacturing for decades to come.”

“Manufacturers have thousands of jobs open nationwide in high-tech, high-wage, in-demand career fields,” Dr. Sacks says. “Students who pursue an education in the manufacturing industry are setting themselves up for immediate employment and a career ladder in a field with incredible innovation.”