11th Annual Career Days Inspires Next Generation’s Workforce

By Bridgerland Technical College | May 5, 2018

The morning of Wednesday, May 2, after months of planning and thousands of hours of preparation, hundreds of Bridgerland Technical College employees, area industry representatives, and volunteers from multiple agencies put the finishing touches on their interactive exhibits as hundreds of 7th grade students streamed from a sea of yellow buses that filled the parking lot. They had come from schools as far away as Wyoming to experience the 11th Annual Career Days event.

More than 3,200 students visited Bridgerland Technical College during the two-day event, where they had the opportunity to engage in dozens of hands-on activities from each of Bridgerland Technical College’s certificate programs. Area business and industry partners were also on-site with activities related to trade and tech careers for students to try.

Examples of activities included: welding a piece of metal, driving a backhoe, administering a breathing tube on a first-aid mannequin, identifying cyber attacks across the globe, dividing pills as in a pharmacy, donning full firefighter gear while dragging hose through an object course, machining a metal coin, engaging with mobile technology for business, creating a structure from a blueprint, and cutting through the windshield of a crashed car, just to name a few.

: Cutting through a windshield at the Fire and Rescue Services Program exhibit.

: Practicing welds in the Welding Technology Exhibit.

: Using a saliva ejector at the Dental Assiting Program exhibit.

The businesses and volunteers who partner with Bridgerland Technical College have a common goal: to inspire students to “Get Their Tech On” and pursue technical education and take pride in the many career opportunities in the technology and trade industries.

“We want to cultivate a pipeline of students into tech and trade careers and get them started early enough to be successful,” said John Davidson, Vice President of Instruction at Bridgerland Technical College. “I have been here long enough to see kids who have come through Career Days later return to earn their certificates and now have great careers because of the training they received here.”

Wendy Carter, Vice President of Instruction at Bridgerland Technical College stated that “Technical education has historically been seen as ‘different’ from a traditional college education. All across the nation that is changing, but I’m proud to say Utah is paving the way. With Governor Herbert declaring 2018 as the Year of Technical Education, we have an opportunity to showcase the value of technical education — Career Days does just that.”

: Automated Manufacturing and Electronic Engineering Program instructors await the arrival of 7th grade students.

: Students practice color theory at the Fashion Merchndising and Development Program exhibit.

: Students observing the CNC machine cut process at the Machining Technology exhibit.

A career counselor who traveled with a group of visiting students exclaimed “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This was one of the best opportunities I have ever seen for students. It got the kids thinking and more importantly, doing.”

Several guests of honor came to show their support for Career Days, including Holly Daines, Logan City Mayor; Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox; Tami Pyfer, Education Advisor to Gov. Gary Herbert; Michael Mower, Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Herbert; Rep. Val Potter, R-North Logan; and Rep. R. Curt Webb, R-Logan. They also took the opportunity to participate in several of the activities and talk to students. “This is a fantastic event that provides students an opportunity to find an area of study that really excites them,” Pyfer said.

: L to R: John Davidson, BTECH VP of Instruction; Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox; Abby Cox; Tami Pyfer, Education Adviser to Gov. Gary Herbert; Holly Daines, Logan City Mayor.

: Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox engaging a student at BTECH Career Days.

: Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox taking a turn as a heavy equipment operator.

Thank you to all of the business and industry partners, volunteers, and dedicated Bridgerland Technical College employees who made this year’s 11th annual Career Days one of the best yet.

Most importantly, thank you to all of the teachers and students who attended Career Days and made it all worthwhile.

“We want these young people to know our focus has always been on them,” Carter stated. “We change lives, one student at a time.”

We look forward to Getting Our Tech On again at next year’s Career Days event!