TechForce unveils Mobile STEM Career Center

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — TechForce Foundation has unveiled its Mobile STEM Career Center, a traveling hands-on exhibit designed to engage Gen Z students and help them learn about a career path as professional technicians.

Penske Truck Leasing donated a specially equipped 26-foot Freightliner M2 box truck to house and transport the TechForce Mobile STEM Career Center. The truck was introduced at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction Jan. 22.

As part of TechForce's national workforce development initiative, the center can be deployed for indoor or outdoor activities and can scale from several hands-on activities to more than a dozen, the foundation said.

The truck features a built-in exterior video wall as well as retractable awnings and two large free-standing shade covers.

It also serves as a mobile billboard, a collaboration between artist Kevin Paige and Roush Industries. which donated the integrated design and wrap.

"This generous donation from Penske Truck Leasing is helping amplify TechForce's ability to directly engage with many more young people who may not realize they might have a knack for this career path," TechForce CEO Jennifer Maher said.

"Although we developed the STEM career activities over the past few years, we've been limited by our ability to deploy them — these are big and heavy activities. This Penske truck makes us highly mobile, and we are looking forward to hitting the road in 2022.

"The real reward for us is when we get to see these young people light up as they discover their skills and how much they enjoy these activities, which can lead to considering a rewarding career as a transportation tech," Maher said.

"Technicians are a key component of keeping the supply chain in motion by servicing existing diesel engines and the emerging EV technologies. Investing in the next generation of technicians is vital to our business and industry," Art Vallely, president of Penske Truck Leasing, said.

"Our ability to configure this vehicle to fit the Mobile STEM Center's needs was the perfect opportunity for us to align with our continued pledge to support TechForce and its efforts to engage with future technicians."

Gen Z, sometimes called "zoomers," are those born between the mid-to-late-90s and the 2010s.

The Mobile STEM Career Center activities include:

• Pit Stop Challenge — a race against the clock to see who can change the tires fastest on the front clip of a NASCAR vehicle using power tools from the racing pits.

• Go Nutz — A contest matching the fasteners (nuts) to the Snap-on wrenches.

• The Virtual V8 — A display of the inner workings of a virtual V-8 engine.

• Off the Line — A test of reflexes on a light tree from a drag strip starting line.

• Slot Car Racing — Learn how shape and weight can determine the winning car in a race.

• High-tech circuits — Build a functioning circuitry with circuit boards, wires, motors and lights.

• How's It Work — A discovery station manned by instructors who demonstrate some of the common auto systems and possible catastrophic failures.

• Model of Power — A opportunity to build a functioning scaled-down model of a V-8 engine.

• Cutaway V-10— A view of the inner workings of a high-performance V-10 engine.

• Code-A-Car — Write code to power miniature auto functions like lights and fans.

• The Nicolas Cage Ford GT on display.

• Information on TechForce competitions, events, training and other resources designed especially for the next generation of techs.

In addition to Penske and Roush, several companies have supported the project, including Shell Lubricants, Ford Motor Co., Sunstate Equipment and Snap-on Inc.