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Building Futures: High School Students Discover Hands-On Career Opportunities at Build My Future Wisconsin
October 03, 2024
On October 2, 2024, over 1,800 students from 45 area K12 school districts gathered at the St. Croix County Fair Grounds in Glenwood City, Wisc. for the 4th Annual Build My Future Wisconsin event. This collaborative event is organized by Northwood Technical College, St. Croix Valley Home Builders Association, Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association, and Chippewa Valley Technical College. Morning and afternoon sessions gave participants hands-on, immersive introductions to career fields across various skilled trades and technical industries.
Northwood Tech featured several of its programs, offering participants the chance to experience real-world tools and equipment:
- EMS/EMT/Paramedic: A simulation ambulance, complete with medical devices and a manikin, offered participants hands-on training in emergency medical services.
- Fire and Rescue: Participants practiced with the Jaws of Life and a fire extinguisher simulator to learn life-saving techniques.
- Architectural Commercial Design: Virtual Reality (VR) goggles allowed participants to explore virtual architectural environments and design concepts.
- Utility Construction Technician: Participants operated heavy machinery, honing their skills by expertly maneuvering a softball from the top of a cone and navigating tires laid flat on the ground.
- CDL Training: Participants learned about careers in commercial driving while gaining hands-on experience using the lift on the truck's trailer to load and unload pallets with pallet jacks, maneuvering them in and out from the lift platform.
- Diesel Equipment Technician and Ag Power & Equipment Technician: These programs introduced participants to the world of maintaining and repairing heavy equipment, including a look at the interior of these oversized vehicles/machinery.
- Construction: Participants helped build a new ticket booth for the St. Croix County Fair Grounds, using construction equipment and building materials to complete the project by the end of the event.
- Apprenticeships: Participants discovered pathways to apprenticeships that provide hands-on learning and a fast track into skilled trades careers.
A Build My Future participant learns how to weld using equipment in Northwood Tech's Mobile Welding Lab with guidance from a current Northwood Tech welding program student.
Northwood Tech staff were also available to discuss dual credit options for participants through their local high schools, enabling them to earn college credits while still in high school. In addition, Northwood Tech staff provided information about the GEAR (Guidance Education and Readiness) program. This program offers free support and financial assistance to youth and young adults aged 14-24 who face barriers like low income or limited work experience. GEAR helps individuals unlock their potential through education, skills training, and career development. Students also had the opportunity to use VR goggles to explore various career fields through immersive simulations.
Events like Build My Future Wisconsin play a key role in guiding participants toward enrolling in technical college programs, earning dual credits, or pursuing customized training for local employers. These opportunities are vital for filling the many open positions within the region and beyond, ensuring a skilled workforce for the future.
