Third Annual College & Career Expo Sees Largest Student Turnout Yet
From Columbia Gorge STEM Hub:
By Nicole Tolmie
The Dalles Ore., May 8, 2024 — The Columbia Gorge STEM Hub in collaboration with Career Connect Southwest WA and Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) hosted its third annual College & Career Expo on Friday, April 19th at CGCC’s Campus in The Dalles. 138 students from 11 different high schools in the region (6 from Washington and 5 from Oregon) attended this year’s event - the largest number to date. This year’s expo showcased a College & Career Fair and immersive workshop sessions aimed at exposing students to a variety of post-secondary options and supporting students on either path - College or Career.
The event kicked off with a keynote address from a local Hood River resident, Rosa Grabos, Manager of Technical Managers at Amazon. Grabos shared her personal journey, emphasizing the value of embracing life experiences and non-linear paths in shaping one’s future. Her motivational message set the tone for a day of exploration and networking. And all students were given the chance to interact with industry professionals and representatives from colleges at the College & Career Fair, where 20 employers and 15 college representatives had booths.
“My students made some really positive and meaningful connections and walked away feeling like it was time well spent. It was really well organized and students appreciated having the choice to choose.” said Kaylene Herman, Dean of Students at Pacific Crest Innovation Academy in Skamania County, WA
With the aim of fostering more student “voice and choice”, the 2024 College & Career Expo introduced a menu of eight workshop sessions tailored to equip students with essential professional skills and insights into high-wage, high-demand sectors in the region. This approach empowered students to tailor their learning experience to individual interests and goals. 20 different industry professionals from regional businesses facilitated the workshops. Four workshops focused on honing professional skills, covering topics such as networking, personal finance, and utilizing AI tools in future careers. The other four took the form of industry panels, featuring 15 industry professionals from high-wage, high-demand sectors who offered students first-hand insights into various career pathways.
Matt Fullerton, Portland Firefighter and Owner of Oregon Digital Security, Facilitator of an AI & Future Careers-focused workshop shared that, “By solving real-world problems as a way to learn about AI, these students will differentiate themselves from other job candidates when they hit the labor market. The workshop was well-received by students and teachers, with many expressing uncertainty about how AI would impact their job opportunities in the next few years.”
Reflecting on the event’s success, Kate Wurster, STEM Hub Coordinator, expressed enthusiasm for the enhanced student experience. “By providing a platform for students to engage with industry professionals from a variety of different sectors, we are helping facilitate a direct connection between education and real-world career opportunities” The STEM Hub is incredibly grateful for the support and participation of regional industry professionals and college representatives in making this event a meaningful one for students. Here is a comprehensive list of Industry & College Representatives who made the 2024 Expo possible.
The Columbia Gorge STEM Hub, a department within the Columbia Gorge Education Service District, is dedicated to promoting STEM education and career pathways in the Columbia Gorge region. Through collaborative initiatives like the College & Career Expo, the STEM Hub strives to empower students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the 21st-century economy.
College & Career Fair Participants
Businesses:
★ Federal Aviation Administration
★ Bonneville Power Administration
★ One Community Health
★ Innovative Composite Engineering
★ Oregon Department of Forestry
★ Crestline Construction
★ Wasco Electric Cooperative
★ Avangrid
★ NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center
★ Washington State Department of Natural Resources
★ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
★ US Forest Service, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
★ Hood River Inn/Columbia River Inn
★ Mount Adams Fruit
★ Lignetics
★ Youth Compass Program, CGCC
★ Adventist Health
★ Goodwill Industries
★ Cardinal Glass
★ Columbia Basin Care
★ Waste Connections
Colleges:
★ Columbia Gorge Community College
★ University of Portland
★ University of Oregon
★ Eastern Oregon University
★ Portland State University
★ Oregon State University
★ Oregon State University-Cascades
★ Washington State University
★ Perry Technical Institute
★ Clark College
★ Army National Guard
★ Gorge Academy (Cosmetology)
★ International Air & Hospitality Academy
Workshop Facilitator Participation
● Oregon Digital Security
● Columbia Gorge Community College
● Impact Electronic Solutions
● Columbia Gorge ESD
● Adventist Health
● One Community Health
● Providence Memorial Hospital
● Zepher
● Federal Aviation Administration
● Stealth-Mode AI Start-Up
● World View Space
● Avangrid
● Army Corp. of Engineers
● US Forest Service
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