Manufacturing Pathways Consortium Celebrates Five Years of Connecting Students with Local Manufacturing
- Aug 13
- 5 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
McHenry County, IL — August 13, 2026 — The Manufacturing Pathways Consortium (MPC) recently celebrated the completion of its fifth annual Summer Internship Program, bringing together students, families, manufacturers, educators, and community partners to recognize another successful summer of connecting McHenry County students with careers in manufacturing.
More than 80 high school students participated in the 2026 program, working alongside professionals at 24 local manufacturing companies and collectively completing more than 20,000 hours of hands-on work throughout the summer.
This year also marked an exciting milestone for the program. Since its launch five years ago, more than 400 McHenry County students have participated in the MPC Summer Internship Program, gaining firsthand exposure to the people, technology, careers, and opportunities within the region’s manufacturing industry. Today, at least 57 former MPC interns are known to be permanently employed by manufacturers, demonstrating that for many students, the experience has become more than a summer internship, it has become the beginning of a career.
The annual Internship Celebration brought that entire community together to recognize the students and the companies and educators who supported them throughout the summer. The auditorium and surrounding halls were filled with students, families, manufacturers, educators, and community partners connecting and celebrating another successful year of the program.
A highlight of the evening was hearing directly from five of this summer’s interns during the 2026 Student Intern Panel:
Maggie Mitchell – Xact Wire EDM Corp.
Jacob Arriaga – Scot Forge
Daniel Nedoss – Xact Wire EDM Corp.
Jordan DeBolt – Jessup Manufacturing
Evelyn Li– RITA Corp.
The panel was moderated by local educators Veronica Gutzmer of Community High School District 155 and Dr. Patrick Enright of Richmond-Burton School District 157 and Nippersink District 2 . Together, the students shared what they learned throughout the summer, the challenges they overcame, the connections they made, and how their experiences changed or strengthened their perspectives on careers in manufacturing.
"The MPC Summer Internship Program provides high school students with valuable hands-on experience to help them explore and pursue future career opportunities in manufacturing and related fields," said Veronica Gutzmer. "Students gain practical skills, learn about workplace expectations, and are exposed to work in a professional environment by working alongside industry professionals. This meaningful opportunity helps students develop professional networks, build confidence and make informed decisions about their education and career goals."
The continued success and growth of the program is possible because of the collaboration between industry and education throughout McHenry County, along with critical funding provided through the Advance McHenry County ARPA grant. Through this funding, participating manufacturers were eligible to receive an 85% reimbursement of intern wages, helping make it possible for more local companies to open their doors, dedicate resources to training and mentorship, and provide students with meaningful, paid work experiences.
“I am incredibly proud to be part of this program and to witness its incredible impact on our students. Seeing educators, community partners, and manufacturers come together to create meaningful opportunities for these high school students truly warms my heart,” said Maria Andrade, Convener of the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium. “Over the past ten weeks, these students have gained more than just workplace experience. They have developed valuable skills, confidence, connections, and a better understanding of what is possible for their futures. The knowledge and experiences they are taking with them will stay with them and, I hope, continue to make a difference throughout their lives.”
The celebration also welcomed the team from the MakingChips Podcast, who spent the evening capturing the stories and perspectives behind the Summer Internship Program.
Throughout the event, the MakingChips team spoke with students, manufacturers, educators, and parents, hearing firsthand what the program has meant to those involved. From students sharing what they learned during their internships to manufacturers discussing the importance of introducing young people to the industry, the conversations highlighted the many different people it takes to create meaningful opportunities for the next generation.
Their presence also gave students an opportunity to tell their own stories and share what manufacturing looks like through their eyes after spending a summer working in the industry.
Beyond helping capture the stories from the evening, MakingChips also showed its support for the continued work of the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium with a generous donation to MPC.
The support extends beyond a single event. By helping amplify the voices of the students, educators, manufacturers, and families involved in the program, MakingChips is helping share a larger story about what can happen when a community comes together to introduce young people to careers in manufacturing.
For MPC, that shared commitment to telling the story of modern manufacturing is an important part of continuing to change perceptions, build awareness, and connect even more students with opportunities in the years ahead.
The 2026 Summer Internship Program was made possible by 24 host manufacturers that opened their doors, provided meaningful work experiences, and dedicated employees to mentoring the next generation: Adroit Design Group, Amcor, Arno USA, Atlantic Track and Turnout, BTM Industries, Inc., Burnex Corp., CRV Electronics Corporation, EDC Controls, Fabrik Molded Plastics, Heartland Cabinet Supply, Jessup Manufacturing Company, Keystone Display, Mathews Company, Mecc Alte, Mitsubishi Logisnext, NiMCO, NN, Inc., Regal Rexnord, RITA Corp, Scot Forge, Swiss Automation, TC Industries, Inc., Wm Kline, and XACT Wire EDM Corp.
MPC also recognizes the educators and schools that connect students with these opportunities and continue working alongside local industry to strengthen the connection between education and careers.
The 2026 participating high school partners included: Cary Grove High School, Community High School District 155, Harvard High School, Huntley High School, Johnsburg High School, Marengo Community High School, McHenry Community High School, Richmond Burton School District 157, Trinity Oaks Christian Academy, and Woodstock School District 200.
Five years and more than 400 students later, the Summer Internship Program continues to demonstrate what can happen when education, industry, and the community come together around a shared mission.
For students, it is an opportunity to discover what manufacturing actually looks like and where their skills and interests could take them. For manufacturers, it is an opportunity to invest directly in the next generation. And for McHenry County, it is another step toward building a stronger workforce and ensuring that young people know about the career opportunities available right here in their own community.
About the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium
The Manufacturing Pathways Consortium (MPC) is a collaborative group of manufacturers, educators, and community partners focused on building a sustainable talent pipeline and increasing awareness of careers in manufacturing. Through initiatives such as the Common Hiring Application, the Summer High School Internship Program, Manufacturing Month events, and ongoing employer collaboration, MPC works to strengthen long-term workforce development across the region.
For more information about the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium, visit mfgpathways.com or contact Maria Andrade, mandrade@mchenry.edu.
Media Contact:
Maria Andrade, Coordinator of Events and Outreach of Workforce Division at McHenry County College mandrade@mchenry.edu
