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For many high school students, choosing a future career path begins with exploring possibilities beyond the classroom. Students from across the region had the opportunity to do just that during the annual Transportation and Logistics Day at the University of Wisconsin-Superior on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The event welcomed 50 high school students from Superior, Hayward, Proctor and Northern Waters Environmental School to campus for a day of hands-on learning and career exploration. Transportation and Logistics Day connected students with industry leaders and UW-Superior students to showcase the wide range of opportunities available in the transportation and logistics field.
Designed to introduce students to one of the region’s most significant industries, the event highlighted the many ways transportation and logistics impact everyday life. Participants learned about the five modes of transportation that support the Twin Ports area while gaining insight into the systems that move goods and materials across the country and around the world.
“We wanted to make supply chain management relatable and engaging for students by using a familiar local example: a loaf of bread sold at Duluth’s Best Bread,” said Khadija Ajmal, UW-Superior assistant professor of transportation and logistics management, and academic director for master of science in sustainable management. “Through this hands-on mapping activity, students traced the journey of raw materials from their sources to the bakery and, ultimately, to the customer.
Along the way, they explored different modes of transportation, including trucking, rail, ocean shipping and intermodal transportation, while learning about the coordination required in sourcing, processing, warehousing, manufacturing and distribution.
The activity also highlighted the wide range of career opportunities within supply chain management, from transportation and logistics to procurement, production planning, analytics and sustainability. By showing students how many people, skills and decisions contribute to something as simple as a loaf of bread, we hoped to spark their curiosity and demonstrate just how diverse, dynamic and rewarding a career in supply chain management can be.”
Throughout the day, students engaged directly with representatives from Cenovus Energy, Minnesota Sea Grant, the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, Halvor Lines and Duluth International Airport. Interactive sessions allowed students to hear firsthand about career paths, workforce needs and the skills employers seek in future professionals.
In addition to meeting industry experts, attendees connected with current UW-Superior transportation and logistics management students. Those conversations offered a closer look at college life, academic opportunities and the experiences that have prepared UW-Superior transportation and logistics management majors for careers in the growing field.
Transportation and logistics continues to be a vital component of the regional economy, particularly in the Twin Ports, where shipping, trucking, aviation, rail and pipeline transportation support the nation’s economy.
For UW-Superior, the event reflects a commitment to preparing the next generation of professionals through experiential learning and strong partnerships with regional employers. By bringing students and industry leaders together, Transportation and Logistics Day provides a meaningful opportunity to explore careers, ask questions and discover the possibilities that await in transportation and logistics management.
Students left campus with a broader understanding of the field and a firsthand look at how UW-Superior helps prepare graduates for careers in one of the region’s most dynamic and in-demand industries.