JJC to Host Area High School Students for CAD/Drafting Competition March 6

The Joliet Junior College Technical Department will host approximately 110 local high school students in the 2020 Regional Computer-Aided Design (CAD)/Drafting Competition on March 6. It takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the T and U Buildings on the JJC Main Campus, 1215 Houbolt Road.  

The Illinois Drafting Educators Association will coordinate the event, which immerses students in a challenging and competitive design experience that tests their skills and prepares them for the state competition.

View Photos from 2019 Competition

This year’s competition will feature high school students from Lincoln-Way, Lockport, Lemont, Marquette Academy, Joliet West, Joliet Central, and Seneca. They’ll be tasked with different designs based on categories chosen by their teachers, such as mechanical machine parts and architectural floor plans. Industry professionals will judge the submissions, and prizes will be awarded for each category. First and second place winners are eligible to proceed to the state competition.

Scott Boudreau, JJC CAD professor and IDEA regional director, said the competition is a great experience for students considering a career in CAD drafting.

“It’s a fun way for them to be challenged and get creative, plus learn some of what goes into studying CAD at the college level,” Boudreau said. “It also serves as a stepping stone to the state competition, and a way to see if they’re ready to compete at that level.”

The state competition, which will include high school teams from all across the state, will be held at Illinois State University in Normal on April 18. Winning teams at the state competition earn a medal. All regional and state IDEA participants planning to enroll or transfer to ISU’s Department of Technology are eligible to apply for a $500 Dr. Ryan Brown Scholarship.

For media inquiries, contact Communications and Media Coordinator Scott Harvey at 815-280-2844 or sharvey@jjc.edu.