Held in the building where Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo takes flight, a consortium of companies and organizations throughout the Dairy State hosted an event aimed at connecting Wisconsin's top young talent with its thriving aerospace industry.
Upward of 300 STEM students — ranging from middle school to college seniors — attended the Aerospace Jam, held at the new Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee in late October, and received a bird’s eye view of the state's emerging aerospace and aviation sectors.
This is the second consecutive year for the Aerospace Jam, which is a collaborative venture between the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Gulfstream, Wisconsin Aerospace Partners and the Milwaukee Bucks.
The event is an overture officials within the WEDC say is aimed at keeping Wisconsin-bred talent in the state. The strategy, as with others within the state organization, is designed to ensure local students have the resources available to grow and excel without feeling as though they need to leave the state’s confines.
Vincent Rice, vice president of sector strategy development with the WEDC, recently discussed with Wisconsin Inno year two of Aerospace Jam and the trajectory he sees it going into the future.
Each of this year’s attendees received free admission to the Bucks game following the afternoon career fair meet-and-greet, which was held Oct. 27.
But Rice said he does not believe the bright lights and excitement over the Bucks and its new facility drew the hundreds of students to the event.
“These are kids who are very engaged,” Rice said. “They have a strong sense of what they want to do with their lives. That was powerful to me.”
Rice also is quick to point out the WEDC is one of multiple mechanisms that has made an event such as the Aerospace Jam possible.
“It really was a coordinated effort,” Rice said. “The Bucks really were the driving force behind it.”
When asked if he sees the Aerospace Jam becoming an annual event, Rice gave an emphatic “yes,” but said tweaks could be integrated in the road ahead.
“We have to see how we can make it more interactive,” Rice said. “I also think we have to create some more time around it, so it’s not just a three-hour period.”
This year’s event included a number of one-on-one and small group sessions. But attendees also gathered together at times.
Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch was on hand at the event and spoke to all the attendees as a large group about the resources available in Wisconsin for students interested in pursuing work in the aviation and aerospace industry.
In a statement, Kleefisch said an event such as Aerospace Jam is a great way to put a spotlight on the fields available.
“With over 300 Wisconsin companies active in this industry, Aerospace Jam is a prime opportunity for the next generation of young people who want to pursue careers in STEM-related fields,” Kleefisch added.
