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This summer, the MVSCH partnered with the Corvallis School District to roll out a new six-week paid internship program for high school students. Participants were selected based on their interest in pursuing careers in the skilled trades, healthcare, and other careers that involve educational pathways outside of the four-year university model.
Our first cohort was made up of two young women and a young man who are juniors from Corvallis High School and College Hill High School. The students consisted of a future nurse, non-destructive testing technician, and electrician who plan to attend Linn-Benton Community College next fall.
Two days per week, the students worked alongside Corvallis School District's facilities maintenance team. Learning tools of the trade from seasoned veterans allowed the students to practice their essential employability skills in a professional setting. Questions and feedback were exchanged in real-time, allowing for budding networking and interpersonal communication capabilities to blossom.
One day each week was spent at The MILL, the MVSCH-run makerspace on the Linn-Benton Community College campus in Albany. In The MILL, students received hands-on mentorship with a variety of industry-standard prototyping equipment, problem-solving using the design process, and critical-thinking abilities related to engineering and math concepts. Collectively, the students worked together to build a series of shelves for The MILL to organize fiber art supplies as well as embroidered patches and carved custom relief-print designs to decorate their own unique work bag as a memento of the experience.
The goal of Youth in Trades is to demystify the educational pathways to and proficiencies needed for a successful career in skilled trades industries. Exposing and mentoring students to potential career pathways builds confidence and gives them a road map to opportunity in high paying rapidly growing industries.
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