High School Students in Career Exploration Course Visit GAM

Students enrolled in a Summer Career Exploration Course sponsored by Oakton Community College and NSERVE, visited GAM to see what a future in engineering and advanced manufacturing could be like.  Through the Career Exploration Course, students get first hand experience of the careers and work environments in the areas of their choice.  The program is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors from nearby high schools.

What are Engineers?  

What things do Engineers build? 

What skills must one have to become an Engineer?

What is the job outlook like for Engineers?  

These were some of the questions answered in an interactive presentation with the students.  Students also learned how important internships are to discover their interests in addition to getting an upper hand at landing a job after college.  After the presentation, the students were split into three groups for a factory tour to see different functions at GAM including design engineering, machining, and assembly.

This is the third STEM program that GAM has been involved in this year alone.  In addition to participating in educational programs such as this, GAM often has internships available for high school students interested in engineering, manufacturing, and business.  For factory tours or information on internships, please contact info@gamweb.com.  For more information about the Career Exploration Course, please visit www.nserve.info

Thomas Middle School Students Visit GAM - 5-1-2014

GAM has partnered with nearby Thomas Middle School to help educate students interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields.  For several years now, students visit GAM as a part of the Careers Connection class which includes a job shadow.

The day started with a presentation on the different types of engineering fields, followed by another on the various manufacturing processes.

After the presentations, things got hands on as the students got to design a phone docking station.  They rough sketched the initial concept on a whiteboard and made sure to include all features and dimensions.

With some help from one of GAM’s engineers, the students created a 3D model of their part using Solidworks.  They tweaked the model until it was perfect and then created a dimensional drawing which would then be sent for manufacturing.

While the students ate some pizza for lunch, their part was programmed on a CNC machine.  After lunch, students got to watch as the machine took a block of aluminum and turned it into the phone docking station they designed.  The students were thrilled to leave with the part they actually designed!

GAM Employees Participated in the Shelter Inc. 5K

This past weekend, GAM employees participated in the Shelter Inc. 5K race in Arlington Heights.  Several employees actually took home awards for finishing.  Dan came in 2nd overall, Matt and Jesus both placed in their age group.  Shelter, Inc. provides community based, emergency and longer-term housing for children and adolescents who are abused, neglected, dependent or in need of supervision.  For more information on Shelter Inc. or to donate to their cause, please visit http://shelter-inc.org/

Thomas Middle School Students Visit GAM

Students from nearby Thomas Middle School (Arlington Heights School District 25) came to GAM for a job shadow as a part of their Careers Connection class.  The Careers Connection class is a three part program designed to help prepare students for the work force by introducing career options as well as identifying their interests and strengths.  Students take surveys, participate in discussion groups, and then have an on-site job shadow experience. "We enjoy participating in this program with Thomas Middle School because we get to help students learn and get excited about engineering and manufacturing," said Craig Van den Avont, President of GAM, "It's extremely rewarding to know that GAM played a positive role in the lives of the next generation of engineers."

They started off watching a presentation to help them understand what engineers do, what products they design, and what problems they solve.

After the presentation, they were tasked with designing a part.

The part that they were to design was a spool to keep their headphone cables organized.

 

The students used calipers to check dimensions and to make sure the design would have the correct tolerances.

  
From there, they worked with engineering to take the design concept and then build a 3D model in Solidworks.

Once the design met their approval, it was sent to the 3D printer for prototype production.

In about an hour, they had a working prototype that they got to keep.   

GAM Supports Cubs Charity and World Relief

This past weekend, President Craig van den Avont  (left) and CEO Gary Michalek (right) of GAM, geared up and rode 100 miles in the Wrigley Field Road Tour 2013.  By riding in this event, they helped to raise money for the World Bicycle Relief program which is a non profit organization transforming individuals and their communities through the power of bicycles.

Learn more about the the Wrigley Field Road Tour or the World Bicycle Relief program.