SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – A skilled trades career fair was held at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield on Wednesday.
Presented by the River East School to Career, the event offered more than 200 students from 14 local high schools a look at opportunities available across a variety of trade careers. Thirty-eight exhibitors showcased different paths students can take in careers such as construction, mechanics, healthcare, manufacturing, and much more.
Mike Lapite, store manager at City Tire in Springfield, was one of those exhibitors and he wanted to highlight some of the reasons why students may want to consider auto repair as a future endeavor. “It’s a good trade to get into. It’s good to know, you know, it’s a good feeling to fix your own car. It’s a good feeling to fix other people’s cars, knowing that you did the repair yourself, you made it right, and see it on the road again,” he explained.
Lapite also told us that he’s had success working with students so far and he has even had students take him up on these opportunities after they graduate. “I have two high school kids who still work for me to this day. They’ve both been there over a year, um, each came out of different high schools and they’re doing great. They love it,” he added.
Lapite said careers in his field come at all different skill levels, including entry level. He also hopes to see the fair to return in the future, especially after seeing a high turnout on Wednesday.
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