The Dalles, Oregon — April 21, 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 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. 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.” -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, “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