700 students at ‘GLOW With Your Hands’ urged to consider careers in the trades

Provided photos: Albion students see a brick-laying demonstration at today’s GLOW With Your Hands event in Batavia where 700 students are to experience first-hand activities associated with welding, bricklaying, electrical wiring, heavy equipment operation and many others.

BATAVIA – The five school districts in Orleans County were among 30 districts across the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming County region today that attended the GLOW With Your Hands event.

Students interacted with dozens of businesses and other entities as they learned about workplace opportunities in various fields, including utilities, trades, advanced manufacturing and agribusiness among others.

GLOW With Your Hands organizers include the GLOW Workforce Development Board, economic development, workforce development, education, manufacturing, agricultural, & construction employers, and community leaders.

The Genesee County Economic Development Center and the job development agencies in the GLOW counties organized the 3rd Annual Glow With Your Hands Expo at the Genesee County Fairgrounds.

Today’s event included reduced attendance per school and all students were provided masks to ensure the safety of all participants. BMP America in Medina donated masks produced by the company.

Kendall students are at “Camp Hard Hat,” discussing why it’s ok be outside your comfort zone to find a career path.

The Expo included over 40 local companies providing hands-on experiences for potential career opportunities in the skilled trades and advanced manufacturing.

The participating businesses are recognizing the future demands of their respective workforces need to be addressed now, especially as the current generation of workers are retiring or planning retirement in the next few years.

“Whether our technicians are working on a residential mower for a homeowner, a skid steer for a builder or a combine or baler for one of our farmers the career path they’ve chosen allows them to feel fulfillment at the end of every day,” said Molly Haungs, LandPro Equipment Marketing Manager. “That is the message that we, as the GLOW With Your Hands Career fair committee we are working to get to our youth and their families.  A career in trades offers opportunity for our youth to work hard, learn, continue education and provide a lasting and lucrative career that can combine passion with success.”