Connecting Students and Industry: NFPA Fast Track Events in IL, MI, OH, PA, TX & WI

• A Fast Track Hub centers on a technical or community college with a validated fluid power and mechatronics degree program. Industry partners work with this college to provide ongoing curriculum guidance and student internship opportunities.
   
  • NFPA Fast Track Hubs are currently located at these institutions, with these validated programs: 
    • Waukesha County Technical College in Suburban Milwaukee, WI (Automation Systems Technology, Industrial Maintenance Technician)
    • Triton College in Suburban Chicago, IL (Mechatronics, Mechanical Design)
    • Macomb Community College in Suburban Detroit, MI (Mechatronics)
    • Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, OH (Integrated Systems Engineering Technology)
    • Houston City (formerly Community) College in Suburban Houston, TX (Industrial Maintenance Engineering Technician, Manufacturing Engineering Technology)
    • Northampton Community College in Suburban Philadelphia, PA (Electromechanical Automation Technology, Industrial Maintenance Millwright)

• Feeding into the college is a ring of local high schools, each equipped with fluid power lab equipment and curriculum. Industry partners visit these frequently and provide mentorship and career encouragement.

• Piquing students' interest before high school is a community-wide design-and-build Fluid Power Action Challenge, engaging thousands of middle school students learning about and having fun with fluid power. Industry partners serve as coaches/judges.

• A network of industry partners with facilities near the community works hard to help get students on the path to a career in the fluid power industry and forge a direct connection to their future workforce.

Illinois:

• You Pick The Date! – Facility/Plant Tour for Ridgewood High School Juniors & Seniors

• Oct. 24 – Fluid Power/Manufacturing Day at Triton College

• Dec. 1 – Fluid Power Action Challenge at Schaumburg School District 54 (SD54)

• Mar. 12 – Fluid Power Action Challenge (Challenge Day) at Ridgewood High School

• Mar. 20 – Fluid Power Action Challenge at Triton College w/ Deltrol Fluid Products

• June – Triton College Summer Camp Featuring Fluid Power Activity

Michigan:

• Oct. 17 – Career Day at Romeo (Fast Track) High School

• You Pick The Date! – Volunteer Speaking Opportunity at Center Line High School

• You Pick The Date!  – Volunteer Speaking Opportunity at Macomb Community College

• Feb. 21 & Apr. 30 – Fluid Power Action Challenge w/ Peninsular Cylinder Co.

Ohio:

• You Pick The Date! – Volunteer Speaking Opportunities at Multiple Middle/High Schools in Cleveland Area

• Spring 2026 – Fluid Power Action Challenge at Tri-C with Permco

• Apr. 23 – Fluid Power Day at Tri-C

Pennsylvania (Northampton Community College, New Hub)

• Oct. 7, 2025 – Inaugural Fast Track Hub Meeting at Northampton Community College (Bethlehem, PA)

• More events TBD

Texas:

• Oct. 24 – Manufacturing Day at Houston Community College (HCC)

• Nov. 11 – Workforce Engagement Group Meeting

• Nov. 15 – GirlStart: Girls in STEM Conference

• Nov. 20 - Welding Career Fair (HCC)

• Dec. 8 – Pumps & Pipes, Annual Event

Wisconsin:

• Oct. 30 – Exhibit at Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Skilled Trades & Technical Career Fair

• You Pick The Date! – Volunteer Speaking Opportunity at WCTC

• Mar. (TBD) – Fluid Power Action Challenge Day at WCTC with Price Engineering

• May 2026 – Fluid Power Day at WCTC

For questions or to get involved with upcoming activities, please contact Haley Nemeth at hnemeth@nfpa.com for Michigan events, James Foster at jfoster@nfpa.com for Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin events, or Erin Bauer at ebauer@nfpa.com for Pennsylvania (Northampton Community College) and Texas events. To learn more about NFPA’s Fast Track to Fluid Power hubs, visit our website.