February 27, 2026
Ferris State to host second annual Jill of All Trades event, encouraging young women to join skilled workforce industries
Ferris State University’s College of Engineering Technology will host the second annual Jill of All Trades event next month to provide female high school students the opportunity to experience what it’s like to join skilled workforce technologies and industries.
Roughly 120 students are expected to attend the event that’s scheduled for Thursday, March 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
“For young women, it’s very important that they not only see the opportunities that are out there in male dominated career fields, but to really put their hands on it and have a chance to experience something that they might not ever have the opportunity to do,” said Ashley Hawley, CTE/Perkins Coordinator at Ferris State. “Getting that exposure and empowerment is huge for female students.”
Jill of All Trades was initially launched by Conestoga College in Ontario, Canada, as Ferris State became the first university to host it in Michigan.
Like what is seen at a career fair, the high school students will have the chance to speak with Ferris State Bulldogs in the university’s engineering tech programs. Students can learn more about studying through Ferris State’s programs and what steps to take after college, among other topics.
The Ferris State engineering tech programs participating at the event include Architecture and Facility Management, Automotive, Electronics and Automation, Manufacturing, Heavy Equipment, Plastics, Product Design, Surveying, and Welding.
The young women visiting will have a chance to experience three workshops during the event, which Hawley says will help to promote the individual programs, but also the College of Engineering Technology as a whole.
More importantly, Jill of All Trades will spotlight the low number of female students in CET, who Hawley stated only makes up 16% of the enrollment out of the total number of students.
“That’s low. So, if we can provide the opportunity and expose them to an opportunity to put their hands on something, that’s half the battle. We’re here, and it’s possible for you (female students) to do, not just for male students and workers,” Hawley said.
With that, the priority for inviting the attendees was reaching out to those with little to no experience in tech industries, or at least those not enrolled in any relative classes/extracurricular opportunities. Tech center students are still invited to provide more experience.
“Ferris is unique, and we offer all these fields in engineering technology. We’re not a trade school, so the fact students can come here and have these specific opportunities is huge for the students- especially Ferris,” Hawley said. “Our students, the female mentors, love this event just as much as the high school students who come to visit because they can share their knowledge to the up-and-comers and help facilitate the workshops.
Additional on-campus departments, RSOs and sponsors from professional industries will also be in attendance, including Ferris State’s admissions office, for the attending students who want more information on how to apply at Ferris State.
More details related to Jill of All Trades can be found here.