Illinois Tech Students Visit Industry Innovators Over Spring Break

Dozens of Illinois Tech students visited companies across the Chicago metropolitan area over the university’s spring break on March 17–24, 2025, learning about potential employers and their industries and making a host of new networking connections. 

Over the course of the week, 88 students visited eight companies that hire for a variety of fields, including electrical, mechanical, civil, and architectural engineering; business and management; manufacturing; project management and logistics; architecture; and physics. The visits are organized every year by Illinois Tech’s Office of Career Services to enable students to engage with industry professionals and employers prior to graduation. 

“They’re able to see what the workplace looks like, get industry insights, and build their professional network,” says Nicholas Mancari, Illinois Tech’s director of career development and engagement. “We try to have multiple touchpoints for employer engagement, and this is one of them.” 

Rebecca Zhu (CS 4th Year), one of the students who took part in the visits, says they “were incredibly valuable because they gave me direct exposure to real leaders in the industry—not just their roles, but who they are as people. Each of them had a distinct personal brand shaped not just by their positions, but by their values, life journeys, and how they chose to show up.” 

Zhu added that, during the visit to Northern Trust, she most appreciated “how down-to-earth and respectful [the company’s executives] were toward students like me who are just starting out....They spoke to us, not at us. They emphasized the importance of being intentional, building relationships, and staying persistent—lessons that will stay with me throughout my career.” 

The visits weren’t just impactful for the students.  

“We were thrilled to welcome the brilliant engineering students from Illinois Tech to our office,” Emily O’Brien, a recruiter for Invenergy, says. “Their curiosity and talent were truly inspiring. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the next generation of innovators and showcase our dynamic team and new office space. We look forward to building more such meaningful connections in the future.” 

In addition to Invenergy and Northern Trust, students visited Chicago Metal Rolled Products, S. C. Johnson Lifestyle Brands, structural engineering firm WSP, architectural firm Gensler, Euclid Techlabs, and management consultant firm Slalom.  

“Euclid Techlabs appreciates the strong relationship maintained with Illinois Tech. Student support has been valuable to many projects over the years. The company has benefited from the contributions students have made, while the students gain real-world experience in the multi-disciplinary area of particle accelerators,” says Ben Freemire, a senior research scientist with Euclid Techlabs. 

Adds Brian Vitale, principal and managing director of Gensler Chicago, “Hosting an event for students to explore the architecture industry is a powerful way to ignite their passion and creativity. It offers them a glimpse into the endless possibilities within the field, fosters connections with seasoned professionals, and empowers them to envision their future as innovative architects shaping the world.”

Zhu, the student participant, agrees, “The visit didn’t just expand my view of what’s possible—it made the future feel real, grounded, and within reach. That’s something you can’t get from a classroom alone.”

Students or companies who wish to participate in the annual spring break company visits can contact Illinois Tech’s Office of Career Services at careerservices@iit.edu.

Photo: Illinois Tech students visit Northern Trust on a spring break visit with industry professionals.