EPIC STUDENT DAY

4,500 area high schoolers attend this annual, hands-on career exploration event composed of interactive experiences simulating career activities students may pursue through educational paths. 

Business & Administration

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Engineering & Manufacturing

Arts, Communications & IT

Health Science Technology

Human Services

Marketing, Sales & Service

Activities

Are you passionate about social media? Imagine turning that passion into a powerful skill! Explore the Marketing Cluster to learn how to not only craft your personal brand but also master the art of building a successful commercial brand from the ground up. Discover the secrets behind marketing strategies, storytelling, and everything that drives top brands to success!

Careers Represented

  • Marketing
  • Business Management
  • Account Management
  • Social Media Development
  • Logo Development
  • Brand Development

Retail

Activities

Get ready for a Family Feud-style game with a twist! As you explore different areas of retail, they’ll uncover answers displayed around the room. If you’re up for the challenge, you can step in and put your knowledge to the test by planning and leading the game. It’s a fun, interactive way to dive into the world of retail while sharpening your skills!

Careers Represented

We will highlight careers within both the retail and non-retail areas of a business! We will also show case career progressions.

Participating Business & Academic Partners

Entrepreneurship

Activities

Have a great product idea? Want to explore what it would look like to launch that idea into a business? Join us to explore entrepreneurship! You’ll talk to real-life entrepreneurs as well as entrepreneurship club members from local universities. And you’ll have the option to compete in a fun pitch competition game for ultimate bragging rights!

Careers Represented

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Self-Employment

Participating Business & Academic Partners

Finance

Activities

Unlock Your Financial Future: Escape the Numbers! – Financial themed escape room

Careers Represented

  • Accounting
  • Banking
  • Investing
  • Financial Advising

Business, Management, Administration

 Activities

B.A.M.! Want to be a superhero in Business, Administration, or Management? Visit us to explore key business careers! Spend 15 minutes with us for Q&A sessions, mini scenarios, and hands-on games. Complete all three to earn a “superpower” and qualify for swag and prizes. Don’t forget to visit the TikTok Snap Hub, #EPICMN, before your next adventure!

 

Careers Represented

  • Operations Manager
  • Administration Manager
  • Office Manager
  • Payroll
  • Receptionist
  • Training & Development Administrative Support
  • Human Resources
  • Recruitment

Hospitality & Tourism

Activities

Calling all aspiring hospitality professionals! Get ready to dive into the world of travel, tourism, and unforgettable experiences. This immersive journey covers every corner of the industry, from crafting culinary delights and planning dream vacations to managing hotels, coordinating events, and exploring the airport sector. Join us to discover a wealth of opportunities in the Hospitality and Tourism Cluster!

Careers Represented

  • Hotel Management
  • Casio Management
  • Food Service
  • Event Planning
  • Event Sales
  • Museum/Attraction Management
  • Culinary Arts

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Activities

Explore exciting agricultural careers through hands-on activities! Test soil properties, learn seed metering, use a refractometer, discover vet tech roles, delve into meat cutting, and experience cutting-edge technologies in the ag tech trailer. Uncover diverse paths in the agricultural field!

Activities both inside and outside!

Careers Represented

  • Soil & Water Specialist
  • Veterinary Technician
  • Equipment Technician
  • Food Science

 

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

Activities

Experience construction and utilities with hands-on activities! Build a picture frame, explore plumbing with a PEX expansion demo, and work with quick-drying concrete. Learn about powering our lives with overhead electrical equipment and try operating a laser screed. Plus, view blueprints and jobsite photos for an insider’s look at the industry!

Activities both inside and outside!

Careers Represented

  • Truck Driving
  • Diesel Technology
  • Heavy Equipment Operation
  • Auto Body
  • Automotive
  • Truck Mechanics
  • Service Management
  • Truck Sales
  • Parts Sales
  • Heavy Equipment
  • Shop Ownership
  • Estimation
  • Aviation Mechanic
  • Pilot

 

Manufacturing & STEM

Activities

Ready to build your own ATV? Dive into the exciting world of Manufacturing and STEM! Get hands-on with welding, explore the wonders of 3D printing, and dive into robotics. If you love working with your hands and creating, this is the perfect cluster for you. Don’t miss out on the chance to unleash your creativity and skill!

Careers Represented

  • Mechanical Drafting
  • Mechanical Design
  • Engineering
  • Machinist
  • Inspection
  • Coordinate Measuring Machine Operation
  • Assembly
  • CNC Machining
  • Robotics
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Panel Technician
  • Quality Control / Assurance
  • CAD/Mechanical Design
  • Safety
  • Welding
  • Robotic Welding

 

Architecture & Construction

Activities

Experience construction and utilities with hands-on activities! Build a picture frame, explore plumbing with a PEX expansion demo, and work with quick-drying concrete. Learn about powering our lives with overhead electrical equipment and try operating a laser screed. Plus, view blueprints and jobsite photos for an insider’s look at the industry!

 

Careers Represented

  • Renewable energy
  • Plumbing
  • HVAC
  • Fire Protection
  • Electrical Design and Engineering
  • Production Laborers and install
  • Carpentry
  • Commercial Refrigeration Installer
  • Construction
  • Linework
  • Concrete Finisher
  • Laborers
  • Finishers
  • Bricklayers
  • Foreman
  • Project Managers
  • Estimators

Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communication

Activities

Explore the creative world of media through radio, podcasting, and music production! Students can experiment with photography using cell phones or professional cameras, while also engaging in broadcasting, editing, and journalism demos for a well-rounded look at media skills.

Careers Represented

  • Radio DJ
  • Podcast Host
  • Music Producer
  • Sound Designer
  • Photography
  • Videography
  • Journalism
  • Broadcasting
  • Public Relations
  • Television Production

Information Technology

Activities

Explore vital IT skills through hands-on activities like Ethernet cable making and network troubleshooting. Engage in cybersecurity with “Deepfake Detectives” and a Try Cyber Challenge, while investigating IT careers through interactive data analytics reports on roles and salaries. Additional activities include game mechanics with Unreal Engine 5, 3D modeling with Blender, and command line demonstrations.

Careers Represented

  • Computer Network Engineering
  • Cybersecurity Analyst
  • Digital Forensics Expert
  • Machine Learning Engineer
  • Software Developer
  • Media Analyst
  • Computer Networking Computer Repair
  • Computer Forensics Information Assurance.
  • Information Technology
  • Game Design
  • 3D modeling/animation

Health Science

Activities

Get ready for an exciting adventure in health science! From performing a live birth simulation to creating your own DNA helix, the Health Science area offers hands-on experiences that will immerse you in the world of medicine. Dive into microbiology, try your hand at suturing, and explore genetics, surgery, and lab science like never before. Whether you’re curious about medical procedures or fascinated by the tiniest microbes, there’s something thrilling waiting for you!

 

Careers Represented

  • Biology/Microbiology
  • Medical Laboratory Science
  • Phlebotomy
  • Laboratory Assistance, Microbiology
  • Biomedical Technology
  • Nursing
  • Medicine – Physician
  • Medicine – Physician’s Assistants
  • Physical Therapy
  • Nursing Assistance
  • Forensic Dentistry
  • Surgery
  • Surgical Technology
  • Social Work
  • Environmental Service
  • Nutrition & Dietary Sciences
  • Clinical Genetics
  • Genetic Counseling
  • Echocardiography
  • Imaging

 

Human Services

Activities

Immerse yourself in a variety of careers with hands-on activities that bring this cluster to life! From caring for a lifelike baby doll to testing your skills at an archery range, you’ll explore different fields in an exciting way. Discover self-care resources and capture the moment at the photo booth as you dive into the diverse opportunities awaiting you!

Careers Represented

  • Therapy
  • Behavior Analysis
  • Mental Health Care
  • Behavior Intervention
  • Clinical Trainee
  • Youth Development
  • Human Services Program Management
  • Direct Care
  • Nutrition Sciences
  • Parent Education & Coaching
  • Certified Nursing
  • Personal Care
  • Social Work
  • Nursing Home Administration
  • Geriatrics
  • Gerontology

 

Education & Training

Activities

Explore Early Childhood education through fun hands-on activities and interactive escape room-like challenges. Create custom buttons and stickers while chatting with experienced volunteers, snap a pic at the selfie station, and enjoy the looping video *Peekaboo Can Save the World* as you pass by!

 Careers Represented

  • Early Childhood Teacher
  • Elementary Teacher
  • Secondary Teacher
  • Multiple Other Positions within a School District

 

Government & Public Administration

Activities

Have you ever wondered what powers a city through every season, keeping everything running smoothly, no matter the challenges? Dive into the dynamic world of Government and Public Administration, where you can chart your own path and make a real impact on your community. Explore the possibilities and discover your next adventure!

Careers Represented

  • City Manager/Administrator
  • City Planner
  • Planning Consultant
  • Community Development Director
  • Economic Development Director

 

Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security

Activities

Explore public safety with hands-on experiences! Learn how drones aid police, assist in emergencies with the 911 system, and detect body fluids at a mock crime scene. Discover firefighting techniques and the role of State Patrol Troopers. Understand County Corrections Officers’ safety measures, and provide medical care to a mannequin as a Paramedic or EMT. Gain valuable insights into diverse careers in public safety!

Careers Represented

  • Police Officer
  • Deputy Sheriff
  • 911 Dispatcher
  • Investigator/Detective
  • Firefighter
  • State Patrol Trooper
  • Corrections Officer
  • Paramedic/EMT