Students explore career possibilities at Auto STEAM Days

METRO DETROIT — Middle school and high school students interested in manufacturing and technology careers recently had the opportunity to meet with local manufacturers during the annual Auto STEAM Days.

The event was held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at the Macomb Community College Sports and Expo Center, where different pods were set up for students to explore science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM).

Nearly 2,000 students from Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties completed hands-on activities in auto design, robotics and technology, including product design, clay modeling, programming autonomous vehicles and augmented reality. Representatives from Magna International, General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., Siemens, Kuka, Leco Corp. and the Center for Advanced Automotive Technology led the activities.

The Macomb County schools that participated were Lakeview High School, Davis Junior High School, Regina High School, Henry Ford II High School, Chippewa Valley High School, Lincoln High School, Austin Catholic High School and Anchor Bay Middle School.

The list of attending schools also included Wyandot Middle School, Algonquin Middle School, Utica Alternate Learning Center, Iroquois Middle School, Seneca Middle School, Jeannette Junior High School, Eppler Junior High School, Marlow Junior High School and Anchor Bay Middle School South.

Lincoln High School instructors Fred Cook and Mike Zainea brought about 15 students from the computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) classes to the event.

“Auto STEAM Days is a product of Macomb Community College in cooperation with all the manufacturers in the area who chose to participate,” Cook said. “At each booth, different companies that are looking for talent are trying to attract kids to their businesses.

“I hope the students get a good look at what the possibilities are for their future and their careers,” Cook said. “We try to do the best we can to create an environment in the classroom that simulates a working area. Here, they get glimpses into careers we are not equipped to show at the school.”

Lincoln High School sophomore Shaun Gianino was most impressed by the Siemens automation company presentation.

“They’re showing people simpler ways people can use technology better than before,” Gianino said. “It’s impressive on how it all works and how they’re implementing it into society.”

At one point during the day, Regina freshmen Natalie Moore and Adrianna Spindler tested out the coding experiments. Both enjoyed the Auto STEAM Days activities, especially the clay cars.

“Here, we get to interact,” said Spindler, who is thinking about entering the engineering field.

“It’s fun. It’s entertaining,” Moore said. “It’s all hands-on things. It gives us different opportunities to do things in these careers.”