The St. Louis County Apprenticeship and Career Pathways Showcase highlighted high-paying, hands-on careers in trade.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — There is a major need across St. Louis County for skilled workers. Since college isn’t for everyone, the St. Louis County Apprenticeship and Career Pathways Showcase exposed students to other possibilities.
Mary Giunta, Affton High School College and Career Senior Counselor, said the focus has always been on college and they want to show students there’s another way.
“It’s really a push for everybody in the community to gather and get information to find the right career path for them,” she said.
Dr. Michael Maclin, Special School District of St. Louis County Superintendent, said the goal is to show students a different path but also helping them search for their passion.
“It really allows for students to follow their passion. ‘What are your dreams and what are your passion?’ We ask that for students who are in early childhood education, but then we stop and so how do you follow your passion?” he said.
According to Andi Harpring, Special School District of St. Louis County Community Partnership Administrator, finding that answer is the goal of the showcase.
“A lot of people that go into a college or university don’t complete, so they have the debt without the degree or credential. Coming right out of high school, it’s not necessarily college, or it can be college, when,” she said.
About 45 vendors filled South Tech High School’s gym Saturday morning, including American Welding Academy. Student Outreach Coordinator Nicholas Hellmann said trades are vital to our daily lives.
“These lights in this building wouldn’t be on without trades. There wouldn’t be food on our table at night without trades, so I think it is extremely important that trades are growing still,” he said.
The showcase had everything, from law enforcement to welding, to automotive and more. Dr. Maclin said it also helps address a major shortage of skilled workers in our area by exposing students to high-paying, hands-on careers.
“We’re placing 86% of students in the field, so when you think about pre-apprenticeship to apprenticeship and students immediately going to work. CTE used to be an option, but for many students right now it’s the only option and it’s a pretty good successful option for students,” he said.
Options many, including Hellmann, know first-hand.
“It has been the best decision that I’ve made for myself to this day,” he said.
The hope, according to Giunta, is that more students feel empowered to make that same decision.
“It’s all about the student defining their success, not us, and so giving them the options and the resources to find that is what’s really important for us,” she said.
The Special School District of St. Louis County wants to expand these opportunities to elementary students, according to Dr. Maclin, so they can open up students to the many different pathways they can take at an early age.