MakerFest 2025

JWCC participates in Tri-State Maker Fest with interactive demonstrations for students

QUINCY — As part of Manufacturing Month, John Wood Community College (JWCC) welcomed hundreds of area high school students to its Workforce Development Center (WDC) for interactive tours and demonstrations as part of the Tri-State Maker Fest held Friday, Oct. 3.

The event was designed to spark student interest in high-demand, high-wage manufacturing and technical careers by giving them a first-hand look at modern equipment, hands-on learning and pathways to rewarding jobs. Students toured JWCC’s recently expanded WDC — home to advanced manufacturing, robotics, welding, computer-aided design, HVAC truck driver training, and more — in addition to visiting area manufacturers to see classroom concepts applied in the workplace.

“Maker Fest is about connecting students to real opportunities in our region,” said Dave Hetzler, JWCC Dean of Career and Technical Education, in a press release. “By combining interactive demonstrations at JWCC with tours of local employers, students see how their education translates into in-demand skills and great careers close to home.”

Hetzler added that career paths in the trades are becoming more attractive to students and families.

JWCC’s Workforce Development Center reported a 34% increase in enrollment growing from 147 unduplicated students last year to 198 this fall. He credited the 2024 expansion of the college’s training facility, the launch of Illinois’ first Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) chapter and connections with regional employers and high schools as part of the increase.

At JWCC’s WDC, students experienced the following during Makerfest:

  • Interactive demonstrations in industrial maintenance, machining, welding,  HVAC and electrical systems.
  • Presentations on career pathways in advanced manufacturing, transportation, logistics, and technical trades
  • Information about Great River FAME (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education), a unique earn-and-learn program that allows students to work for local manufacturers while completing JWCC’s Industrial Maintenance Technology degree.

In addition to the WDC experience, students will tour participating regional manufacturers, further connecting classroom concepts with real-world production.

Muddy River News: October 3, 2025