AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 10, 2026
Students Get a Firsthand Look at Trades Careers
On Thursday, more than 200 high school students arrived at Edmonds College for Trade Up, an annual event designed to immerse teens in the world of skilled trades, apprenticeships, and union careers. As students stepped off their buses, they donned hard hats and safety vests, gearing up for a day of interactive learning and career exploration.
An Interactive Approach to Career Exploration
Trade Up, sponsored by The Snohomish and Island County Labor Council and Workforce Snohomish, transforms one of Edmonds College’s parking lots into a hands-on hub for students. The event provides a unique alternative to traditional career fairs, letting students actively participate in demonstrations and activities that reflect real-world tasks found in trades jobs.
"We don’t get hands-on events normally for career fairs," said Vanessa Medalla, Edmonds School District’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) business partnerships and career connected learning coordinator. "In this case, they’re actually doing what they’re going to be doing in the future."
Day in the Life: Apprenticeships and Skilled Trades
During Trade Up, students rotated through booths representing a variety of trades, such as machinery, meat cutting, and public works, spending 15 minutes at each station. Activities included tying rebar, using virtual welding equipment, and operating simulators that replicate construction machinery. Each booth aimed to offer a snapshot of daily work in that particular field, including features like tracking hours on a timesheet and taking lunch breaks.
Students were compensated for their participation with a $10 Fred Meyer gift card, giving them a small taste of the value of their labor.
Union Careers and Student Opportunities
The Trade Up event introduces students exclusively to union career paths. At one booth, laborers from the Laborers’ International Union of North America’s Local 292 spoke about the variety of careers available. Scott Rockwell, a member of the union, shared, "Not everybody has to go to college or work in an environment like that. That’s why I fell into the trades. I like being outside. I like moving my hands and seeing something physically completed." Fellow union member Micah Stoin highlighted the advantage of paid training and health benefits in trades careers, stating, "This is a career path that you can’t really shake a stick at."
Learning by Doing: Student Experiences at Edmonds College
Inside the Machinists Institute’s trailer, students tried virtual welders while a 3D printer produced miniature boat figurines. Herman Calzadillas, the institute’s regional director of operations, talked to students about lifelong learning and evolving career paths in the skilled trades.
Some students tried new skills for the first time. Mariner High School student Abe Flores learned to tie rebar and reflected, "It gave me a lot of respect for the people who do it." Inside Brier Hall, students operated an excavator simulator under the guidance of members from the International Union of Operating Engineers No. 302, learning about the complexities of operating heavy machinery.
Spotlight on Food Trades and Local Industry
Representatives from the meat cutter industry gave out sausage samples and explained the value of specialized food trades. Pat Donnelly, a meat cutting instructor at South Seattle College, described his favorite part of such events as seeing students realize the broad range of possibilities in the skilled trades. Noah Mallindine, who works in the meat department of Town & Country Market, said he chose meat cutting for its versatility and international appeal.
Other booths featured organizations such as the Port of Everett and Snohomish County Public Works, showing the variety of apprenticeships and skilled trades available.
Impact and How to Get Involved
The Snohomish and Island County Labor Council organizes three Trade Up events annually, each reaching more than 1,000 students from over ten school districts. This marks the fourth year Edmonds College has hosted the event, contributing to its 12-year countywide tradition. Juniors and seniors interested in participating are encouraged to contact their school’s CTE department for more information on student opportunities and involvement.
Source: heraldnet.com.
