Eighth grade students engage with industry pros at career event

COEUR d'ALENE — What do oversized trivia cards, plastic firefighter hats, a popcorn machine and the classic board game "Operation" all have in common?

They were among icebreakers and attractions to draw interest and engagement from local eighth graders Wednesday during the Post Falls Area Chamber's Unlock Your Future event at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

While enjoying spinning wheels for prizes and picking up all kinds of merch, the students also interacted with representatives from 60 businesses and industry partners to learn about everything from mining and construction to banking and health care.

"It's pretty fun," Canfield Middle School eighth grader Rhen Andersen said after winning a miniature Snickers at the North Idaho Building Contractors Association's table. 

"I just like how we get to look at jobs that sound pretty interesting to us," he said. "For me, I'm more interested in the construction side of it. It's fun we get to explore these jobs for our futures."

Lakes student Zavi Hoston said she really liked Unlock Your Future.

"I think it's really cool," she said. "I'm more focused on the trades, for like engineering for houses, but I like this program really well."

"I think it's nice to be able to look at more of what we can do in certain spaces," Zavi's classmate, Aislynn Palepale, said. "There's definitely jobs, and then there's other stuff you just don't notice."

One industry that offers more than what it appears on the surface is mining.

"We've had a lot of questions on what the different careers available might be," said Emily Hagenah, president of the Women in Mining Idaho Chapter. "The ladies and the gentlemen that come up are shocked to find out that it's not just for people who want to be underground or geologists or engineers; we have spots available for admin, safety and health, human resources or public relations. It's interesting hearing what the students are interested in. We can always fit it into mining, because mining is for everyone."

Post Falls Chamber President/CEO Christina Petit said the goal of Unlock Your Future is to introduce students to businesses and career paths they previously knew nothing about.

"Next year when they go in as a freshman, they have to create their High School and Beyond Plan, and a lot of them are only aware of what's in their little bubble — what their parents do, what their friends' parents do — so this gives them an introduction," she said. "They go home with a huge magazine with all the businesses listed so they can have follow-up conversations with their parents and counselors so they're better prepared when they get into high school to start making decisions."

Just more than 900 students from the Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls school districts as well as some private schools participated in Unlock Your Future. This was the second year for the event.

    Coeur d'Alene Fire Department engineer Justin Wearne engages with eighth graders Wednesday during the Unlock Your Future North Idaho event at the fairgrounds.
  

    Post Falls ER and Hospital business development manager Amy Bartoo discusses the health care field over a game of "Operation" with Lakes Middle School students Zavi Hoston, center, and Aislynn Palepale during the Unlock Your Future career exploration event at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.