NIMS Student Summit at IMTS 2008 better than ever

The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) (www.nims-skills.org) Student Summit at the International Manufacturing Technology Show 2008 (IMTS)(www.imts.com) will combine an interactive Career Development Center with a dynamic self-guided tour of the technology and manufacturing exhibition. Admission to IMTS 2008 for educators and their students is free and field trips are encouraged for students from middle school through high school and vocational college levels.

Sponsored by the Association for Manufacturing Technology (www.amtonline.org) along with NIMS, the event’s main goal is to generate interest and incite enthusiasm in young people for precision manufacturing through contact with industry professionals and state-of-the-art technology. Educators can have their students witness emerging technologies that will be the future platform for precision manufacturing.

“By offering the opportunity for students and educators to experience IMTS and interact with exhibitors, as well as take advantage of the outstanding program NIMS has planned for our student attendees,” Peter Eelman, IMTS vice president – Exhibitions said. “We hope that students will see first-hand the outstanding, well-paying career opportunities precision manufacturing has to offer.”

The NIMS Student Summit will feature the return of student-friendly exhibitors. Students will have the ability to interact with IMTS exhibitor personnel, ask questions about career opportunities and the skill sets required for entrance into the precision manufacturing industry. Examples of Student Friendly Exhibitors for 2008 include Haas Automation, Agie Charmilles, L.S. Starrett, ToolingU, and Mastercam, to name a few.

The Career Development Center (CDC) will be the focal point of the NIMS Student Summit. As part of the CDC, all students will experience an event orientation during which they will learn about what they can expect during their visit, how their IMTS experiences will relate to future career opportunities in the industry, and they will also hear from successful, young professionals in the industry. The CDC will feature interactive exhibits from colleges and universities, companies and company human resource representatives, and industry associations. Continuous door prizes, a group photo opportunity, and both student and instructor challenges will bring excitement to the CDC while the Career Resource CD-ROM, given to each student, as well as the exhibits, will provide students and educators with important industry-related career information.

New in 2008, graduating high school and college students may bring their resumes, including contact information, to the CDC to drop-off for participating companies to review for entry-level job openings. Educators bringing groups of students will be given more details about this exciting opportunity prior to IMTS.

The IMTS NIMS 2004 Student Summit attracted more than 6,600 students and educators.

IMTS is the largest and longest running manufacturing technology trade show in the United States is held every other year at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. IMTS is ranked among the largest trade shows in the world. Recognized as one of the world’s preeminent stages for introducing and selling manufacturing equipment and technology, IMTS attracts more than 90,000 visitors from every level of industry and more than 40 countries.

Continually updated information on the 2008 NIMS Student Summit at IMTS is available at (www.imts.com/visitor/student.html).