Students, educators supplement classroom time with first-hand learning

Spanning two days this year, Modex 2016 Student Days welcomes students and faculty members from universities, community colleges, technical schools and high schools. On Wednesday and Thursday, the various groups will participate in a series of programs related to supply chain, materials handling, logistics, engineering and industrial distribution.

During ProMat 2015, the event was expanded with the addition of a second day of off-site facility tours. This gave students a chance to see real-world materials handling technology applications at different distribution facilities. The umbrella event was christened “Student Days,” and now includes one Classroom Day at the show, and a second day of facility tours.

Starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday in Georgia World Congress Center, Room B302, students will convene for the 13th consecutive installment of Classroom Day. The event is sponsored by MHI’s College Industry Council on Material Handling Education (CICMHE) and Career & Technical Education (CTE) Program, in partnership with the Material Handling Education Foundation Inc. (MHEFI) and the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA).

“The opportunity to spend time at the show offers students a better understanding of the latest industry developments,” said Teresa Lopez, MHI’s education coordinator. “They get a chance to see the wide variety of solutions that support the flow of materials throughout the supply chain, all in one place.”

Classroom Day is so important to MHI’s Board of Governors, added Lopez, they set aside travel grants to be awarded among attending schools on a first-come/first-served basis. “Because of these grants, more than 200 students are expected to participate,” she said.

The students’ morning kicks off with breakfast and a brief overview of how materials handling and logistics solutions make goods flow, how solutions are developed, current and future trends, people and jobs in the industry. A packet of educational materials from CICMHE, CTE, MHI and MHEDA to help them better understand the show and the industry will also be distributed.

At 10:30 a.m., students and professors will split into groups to take a guided tour of the show floor. Industry experts at selected show booths will be on hand to discuss the materials handling industry, solutions, technologies and careers.

During lunch, the students will view a private simulcast of keynote speaker Kevin O’Leary’s presentation, occurring from 1 - 2 p.m. in the Georgia World Congress Center Hall B’s Thomas Murphy Ballroom. O’Leary, one of North America’s most successful entrepreneurs, is one of the four investors featured on the ABC’s TV show “Shark Tank.” O’Leary will also visit with the students to share “Keys to Business Success,” at 3 p.m.

Prior to O’Leary’s visit, from 2 - 3 p.m., Karie Champlin from Dale Carnegie Training will present “Skills for Success for Young Adults.” The session includes insights on how to tackle generational differences, manage different communication styles and prepare for a job search.

New this year, on Wednesday afternoon from 4 - 5:30 p.m., a Networking and Careers Reception will give university and community college students, faculty and industry leaders an opportunity to mingle. Classroom Day exhibitors, tour guides, MHEFI board members and scholarship donors are also welcome to participate in this event. “The reception is a chance for the workforce of the future to network with potential future employers,” Lopez said.

The addition of education-centric events on Thursday is also new to Modex. From 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., students and faculty will board buses departing from Georgia World Congress Center to see real-world materials handling technology applications at Atlanta-area distribution facilities using state-of-the-art materials handling and supply chain technologies. Upon returning from the tours, the CTE participants will engage in a special workshop from noon to 2 p.m.

“We’re excited to offer students and educators the chance to see our industry’s solutions in action,” Lopez concluded. “It puts the technologies they’ve seen on the show floor into a real world context.”

To learn more about the Student Days program, visit [url=http://www.modexshow.com/education/student-days.aspx]http://www.modexshow.com/education/student-days.aspx[/url].