Experience Day welcomes young students and families to Harper’s campus: Harper College

Harper College invites young students to attend Experience Day, Saturday, November 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Palatine campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road. The free, annual event invites students from third through high school and their families to explore activities related to the college’s broad educational offerings.

Experience Day 2024 offers a variety of hands-on activities, informative presentations and tours of the campus. A highlight of the event will be activities at Harper’s Career and Technical Education Center (Building H), where participants can experience elements of the college’s renowned career and technical programs.

One of these programs is Manufacturing Technology, located in the 6,000-square-foot FMA Metal Fabrication Lab. Attendees can see live demonstrations of Harper’s Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, which help students learn how to create parts from raw materials.

Assistant Professor Aaron Kolb said he also likes to show blueprints to get young students thinking about how everything goes from idea to construction. Lab assistant Will Moctezuma wishes someone had talked to him about manufacturing when he was a kid.

“I would like to reach the younger target group. Depending on who they know, they may not be exposed to certain jobs,” he said. “When I start talking to kids about manufacturing, some of their eyes light up. They see that this is a job and that they can work with their hands.”

Associate Professor Frank Trost has experienced some of these “lightbulb” moments when speaking to young students about the Harper’s Law Enforcement and Justice Administration or Forensic Science programs he coordinates. During Experience Day, students can visit the forensic laboratory or take on the role of a junior detective in a (family-friendly) scenario in the crime simulator laboratory.

In addition, Trost has invited officers from local law enforcement agencies to set up shop in Building H to give students and families the opportunity to explore various pieces of equipment and the latest police technology. Visitors can also view the patrol cars parked outside.

“In law enforcement, you have to be part of the community. One of our goals in this program is that the police are the community and the community is the police,” Trost said. “And some may not know that Harper is an option if you want to get into this field.”

In addition to the activities in Building H, visitors can also explore the classroom labs in the Avanté Center (Buildings X, Y, and Z) with science, humanities, math, and health professions activities. While younger students can enjoy dozens of fun experiences, high school-aged students can tour Harper’s facilities and meet faculty and current students.

The Experience Day is open to the community and registration is not required. Refreshments will be served. There are convenient parking options on lot 3 or in the parking garage. For more information, visit the Harper’s Experience Day website.