College and Career Center Takes Students to Trade Apprentice FairCollege and Career Center Takes Students to Trade Apprentice Fair

On November 14, 31 Tomcats attended the Valley Education for Employment System’s Apprenticeship Expo, hosted by the Painters District Council No. 30 in Aurora. East High’s College and Career Center, along with the Career and Technical Education department, arranged for our students to attend the Expo. The event featured tables hosted by building trades unions including the Boilermakers, Bricklayers, Carpenters, Electricians, Heat and Frost Insulators, Ironworkers, Laborers, Operators, Painters, Pipe Fitters, Plumbers, Sprinkler Fitters and Teamsters.

Students heard from trade workers, who explained the educational and hands-on work that goes into becoming a trades person. Many of the careers offer students the benefit of ‘earning while you learn’, as all organizations offer students paid apprentice programs and free education toward becoming a journey person. Students learned more about the real-world aspect of many careers in the trades, including that workers are rarely without work, and are grounded in the technical education field with stability and reliability for students who pursue them. Thank you to all the trade unions who shared their wisdom with our students, and thanks to our College and Career Center and Tech Ed department, who helped our students experience an educational and potentially life-changing day!