On Friday, October 3, more than 175 high school students from across the Capital Region will participate in the 15th annual Manufacturing Day event at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). The event will showcase the future of manufacturing education, research, and career opportunities at the nation’s first technological university, and inspire the next generation of manufacturers by highlighting the diverse career opportunities and technological advancements available within the industry.  

“Today's manufacturing sector is a sophisticated ecosystem where artificial intelligence, robotics, and precision engineering converge,” said Shekhar Garde, Ph.D., the Thomas R. Farino Jr. ’67 and Patricia E. Farino Dean of the School of Engineering. “Cutting-edge research and education in manufacturing at RPI is helping accelerate that convergence to make new products in the US from sustainable energy solutions to the next generation of computer chips.” 

Participants will attend a panel discussion hosted by Ryan Patry, ’00, ’08G, a Lockheed Martin Fellow in manufacturing technology at Sikorsky Aircraft, featuring RPI students majoring in fields like mechanical and biomedical engineering.  

“It’s a field where you can see your impact firsthand,” said Skylar Neilsen, ’25, a panel speaker and biomedical engineering major who recently completed an internship with Resonetics in Nashua, NH. “In just eight months I was able to introduce a new system to the assembly line, and even begin leading my own projects.” 

Carmella Mantello, mayor of Troy, and New York State Assemblyman John T. McDonald III will also give brief remarks about the importance of manufacturing to the regional economy. 

Attendees will have a chance to tour RPI manufacturing facilities, including the Mercer XLab, the Manufacturing Innovation Learning Laboratory, the Student Machine Shop, and the School of Architecture Robotics Lab. RPI student organizations including the Forge, the Robotics Club, Rensselaer Motorsport, and Design Build Fly will host a manufacturing exhibit fair. 

Conditions permitting, the New York National Guard will land a Black Hawk helicopter in the heart of campus on ’86 Field at 8:30 a.m. Tool manufacturer Snap-on will also be giving tours of its Rock and Roll Truck.  

“RPI is a leader in providing students with opportunities to apply engineering theory through direct, hands-on experience with cutting-edge manufacturing technology,” said Sam Chiappone, director of RPI’s Manufacturing Innovation and Learning Lab. “Our ongoing partnerships with leading employers like Allendale Machinery - Haas, Lutron, Boeing, Snap-on, RBC Bearing, DAPR, Putnam Precision Machining, Arburg, Mastercam, Sikorsky Lockheed Martin, Sandvik, and NSH-USA, are a big reason for that.” 

Events are open to the entire RPI campus community.