Today, thousands of high school students from up and down the Valley learned about the opportunities for their futures at the top college and career fair.
Alma Castillo, director of career readiness for ESD 105, said, “It’s important to have events like this because students need access to what’s available not only locally, but across the state.” . today. “
About 4,000 students flocked to the Yakima Sundome to learn about possible career paths.
“We connect with students, teachers, and administrators to find out what we need in the curriculum we teach, what our business “We’re allowing them to inform their curriculum about what they need.”
Some tables had pencils for distribution, and others had pamphlets for students to pick up. One table had a tank containing sturgeon.
“They’re very interested in this fish,” said Ty Schuster of the Yakama Nation Fisheries. “Some kids want to come and take pictures.”
Students from Ellensburg to Mabton could learn about colleges, community organizations, careers in law enforcement and the military, and even the Yakama Nation’s fishing industry.
“We call this the salmon core program. If we get this off the ground, young people coming out of high school can work in fish hatcheries, and they can work in this field and get a feel for it. ,” Schuster said. . “Perhaps that will lead them to college and become interested in things like fisheries and wildlife.”
After all, students can learn how to reach their future, their own path.
“Career paths aren’t linear, right?” Castillo said. “When you do this, you do this, and it equals something specific, we sometimes think of students, but our purpose here is , making sure students are making connections and learning about different types of careers.”
21 school districts participated in this college and career fair
