1,250 students from 32 school districts get hands-on experience of in-demand careers
GLOW With Your Hands welcomed students from all Orleans County districts
Photos courtesy of GLOW With Your Hands: GLOW With Your Hands: Manufacturing held its seventh career exploration event in Batavia today, with students interacting with businesses and organizations from the trades, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and construction industries.
Press Release, GLOW With Your Hands
BATAVIA – GLOW With Your Hands today hosted over 1,250 students from 32 school districts from across the GLOW region at the Genesee County Fairgrounds.
Students attended from all five school districts in Orleans County – Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina.
The day-long, hands-on event gave students a chance to learn about career opportunities and meet local employers.
The event provided students with the opportunity to interact with employers and career pathway organizations, experience hands-on career demonstrations, and learn more about the career opportunities available right in their own backyard.
Over 75 businesses provided hands-on activities and simulations in the advanced manufacturing, agriculture, food production and skilled trades sectors. Students also were able to learn that many companies offer good-paying opportunities immediately after high school graduation, as well as accelerated training programs available in the region.
“Educators, workforce experts, and local companies continue to collaborate to ensure our students are well-informed about the career opportunities available to them locally and GLOW With Your Hands is another program that contributes to these efforts,” said GLOW With Your Hands Co-Chair, Karyn Winters.
She continued, “We are experiencing record private sector growth across the region, driven in part by our proactive efforts to prepare the next generation of workforce candidates. Our students are ready to contribute on day one of the job because of the instruction, information, and hands-on activity they receive throughout their K-12 journey.”
GLOW With Your Hands is one of the premier workforce development programs of the Northeast United States. Introducing hands-on careers to local students is being replicated across many communities that are aiming to alleviate the workforce shortage and introduce students to opportunities that are not learned in a traditional classroom setting. Another one of the key drivers in the success of workforce development in the region is the collaboration between parents, teachers, and students.
“The GLOW region has excelled in working with K-12 institutions and educational partners to not only ensure the participation and education of students but families as well,” said GLOW With Your Hands Co-Chair, Angela Grouse. “Our students want to learn about these opportunities; they are engaged and thoughtful in their participation at GLOW With Your Hands. This engagement transforms into meaningful conversations that are had in the classroom and at home.”
Avon High School Senior Kalman Dolgos enjoyed interacting with National Grid’s line truck display, simulating opening and closing a circuit on an electric pole.
“The hands-on demonstrations and interactions are my favorite part about GLOW With Your Hands,” said Dolgos. “The company representatives are very passionate about their careers, and that motivated me to ask questions to learn about companies that I was not familiar with.”
GLOW With Your Hands sponsors and exhibitors were encouraged by interactions with students. At Tambe Electric’s demonstration, students learned how electricians troubleshoot fiber optic internet cables when a cable is disconnected. Tambe Electric Lineman David Battisti said the experience taught students what it is like to be a lineman with Tambe and the role the company performs around the region.
“Our first GLOW With Your Hands event was a major success, interacting with the next generation of workforce candidates allowed Tambe Electric to showcase how we help keep the lights on and ensure you stay connected to Wi-Fi,” stated Battisti. “Students were attentive and engaged in our demonstration. The GLOW region continues to produce the future workforce, which is why we will continue to attend this event and recruit from the region.”
