---
title: "Connecting Students and Industry: NFPA Fast Track Events in IL, MI, OH, PA, TX & WI"
description: NFPA’s Fast Track to Fluid Power hubs connect educators, students, and industry members through exclusive programs and events, strengthening the fluid power workforce nationwide.
---

[NFPA News ](https://www.nfpa.com/news)

# [Connecting Students and Industry: NFPA Fast Track Events in IL, MI, OH, PA, TX & WI](https://www.nfpa.com/news/nfpa-fast-track-to-fluid-power-hub-events)

 Written by [Haley Nemeth](https://www.nfpa.com/news/author/haley-nemeth) | Sep 30, '25

[NFPA’s Fast Track to Fluid Power](https://www.nfpa.com/fast-track-to-fluid-power) is a workforce development pathway that partners local technical colleges with industry professionals and high school teachers. These networks create awareness and interest in fluid power and train students along a path that leads to careers in fluid power at NFPA member companies.

 

**What makes a successful Fast Track Hub?**

 

- 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](mailto: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](https://www.nfpa.com/fast-track-to-fluid-power).

[View full post](https://www.nfpa.com/news/nfpa-fast-track-to-fluid-power-hub-events)

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