Slam dunk event at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame engaged over 350 students and educators with competitions, hands-on learning and networking opportunities in the manufacturing sector

Springfield, Mass. - At the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame today, more than 350 students from 12 schools across central and western Massachusetts attended the annual Manufacuring Innovation Challenge. The event, led by MassMakes, is an initiative powered by the Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech).

The event hosted project-based competitions and opportunities for students to explore manufacturing career paths by engaging with industry leaders. Every student in attendance was part of an Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Career Pathways program and took part in competitions including designing wearable technologies and rapidly prototyping emergency shelter beds. Industry leaders in attendance hailed from various manufacturing sectors, including microelectronics and advanced functional fabrics.

The event featured Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, a co-chair of the statewide STEM Advisory Council. Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, and Massachusetts Technology Collaborative CEO Carolyn Kirk.

"Massachusetts leads the rest of the nation in research and innovation because we take STEM seriously," said Governor Maura Healey. "STEM Week prepares our young people for the future by introducing them to cutting edge technologies and pathways in emerging sectors."

"This generation is clearly excited about all of the opportunities that Massachusetts has to offer in manufacturing," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame was the perfect place to engage students with real-time, hands-on opportunities. Like the game of basketball, students learned how to strategize, make real time decisions and work as a team to meet set goals in their manufacturing challenges."

"MassMakes showcases how students are hugely important to the future of our manufacturing economy," said Massachusetts Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao, chair of the MassTech board. "The innovation challenge demonstrates that we are focused on growing our manufacturing capacity statewide by teaching students the necessary skills to compete in the economy, especially in areas like the Pioneer Valley with its proud history in manufacturing."

"Our administration has been focused on providing students with hands-on learning that directly relates to the skills they'll need in the workplace through initiatives like innovation career pathways," said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. "It was great to participate in the Manufacturing Innovation Challenge again this year during STEM week. This event inspires students to see that a career in manufacturing is high-tech, innovative and possible here in Massachusetts."

MassMakes.org is powered by the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and promotes manufacturing technology, training and careers across Massachusetts. MassMakes hosts events like the Innovation Challenge to develop and promote a talent pipeline where academic programs are informed by the needs of local industry. The result is a more informed and better-connected educational system in which students, educators, business and communities are the beneficiaries.

The event was attended by the following schools from across central and western Massachusetts:
• Agawam High School
• Amherst Regional High School
• Chicopee Comprehensive High School
• Gardner High School
• Hopedale Jr.-Sr. High School
• Hopkins Academy
• North Brookfield High School
• Springfield Central High School
• Uxbridge High School
• Wachusett High School
• Westfield High School
• West Springfield High School

"This annual MassMakes event showcased the real impact that our state is having on our talent pipeline," said MassTech Deputy Director, Chief Investment Strategist and Interim CAM Director Ben Linville-Engler. "We want to thank all of the statewide leaders, industry professionals, teachers and students who came to invest in our young people and build a stronger manufacturing ecosystem and talent pipeline in Massachusetts."

The Massachusetts STEM Week 2024 theme is "STEM starts now" highlighting opportunities to learn about STEM and career opportunities at any age.

About the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech
The mission of the Massachusetts Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) is to foster the most complete, collaborative, and agile manufacturing ecosystem, to enable business growth from innovation through production. CAM is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), a public economic development agency tasked with supporting business formation and growth in the Commonwealth's tech and innovation sectors. CAM provides a path for manufacturing growth through a connected, accessible ecosystem that supports innovation, workforce development and a business-friendly environment. CAM managed programs include the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), the MassBridge manufacturing training program, and the massmakes.org portal. Learn more at https://cam.masstech.org/.