Career Day Attracts Hundreds of Illinois Students for a Day of Transportation Education

Fourth Annual Career Day Hosted at Illinois State Fairgrounds

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig welcomed central Illinois students to the agency’s fourth annual Career Day at the Illinois State Fairgrounds today. The event, which was started to inform Illinois students of the many rewarding opportunities in the transportation industry, attracted dozens of companies and hundreds of students from all over the state.

“We want to invest in the future by providing an opportunity for our young people to explore transportation fields in their home state,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “We think Career Day is an interactive and fun way to engage and encourage students to think about their future. Participants will also leave with a better understanding of the dynamic construction and engineering industries, and the opportunities available to them today.”

Approximately 400 middle and high school students were in attendance for today’s event. Students were exposed to over 40 exhibits which will include hands-on activities and several pieces of heavy equipment used to build and maintain Illinois’ system of highways and bridges.

The careers highlighted include civil engineering, engineering technology, safety engineering, surveying and construction trades. In addition to hearing about specific career opportunities, students were also provided with a bag containing information about construction careers, including brochures and bookmarks. Career Day attendees also received items such as a hard hat and safety glasses provided by industry partners.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) partnered with representatives of the transportation industry, educational institutions and community-based organizations to host this event. If you’re interested in more information about Career Day, please visit our website at http://www.dot.state.il.us/careerday/index.html