Building Tomorrow’s Workforce: °®¶¹´«Ã½’s Summer of Youth Engagement
This June, the college welcomed hundreds of middle and high school students through a series of hands-on programs designed to introduce young people to high-demand career pathways long before they have to choose one. From machine shops to programming labs to cosmetology stations, this summer’s lineup gave students a real look at what their futures could hold.
Jill of All Trades Career Exploration Day
°®¶¹´«Ã½ proudly continued its partnership with the AUM Foundation to host the annual Jill of All Trades Career Exploration Day, welcoming 14 exceptional 11th-grade students to campus for a day of hands-on career discovery.
Designed by °®¶¹´«Ã½’s CTE faculty and Division Chairs, the program gave students early exposure to high-demand fields including Computer Science, Business, Automotive Technology, HVAC, Mechatronics, Machining, and Welding. With guidance from student ambassadors serving as peer mentors, participants explored both the technical skills and the career opportunities behind each pathway, building the kind of awareness, confidence, and access that helps shape the next generation of workforce talent.
The Learning Center Campers Visit Campus
°®¶¹´«Ã½ also welcomed middle and high school students from The Learning Center for a day exploring the college’s machine tool, automotive, and welding workshops. Guided by °®¶¹´«Ã½’s Blue Eagle Ambassadors, students got a firsthand look at the college’s technical programs and learned about Dual Enrollment opportunities that let them start earning credit toward their future while still in high school.
Girls Inc. Eureka! STEM Program Takes on Coding
°®¶¹´«Ã½ hosted students from Girls Inc.’s Eureka! STEM Program for a hands-on introduction to programming. Working through a series of coding tasks in the Playgrounds app under the guidance of a °®¶¹´«Ã½ instructor, students brought curiosity and energy to every challenge, asking sharp questions and diving headfirst into their first real taste of writing code.
Boys & Girls Club Summer Haircare Workshop
Rounding out the month, °®¶¹´«Ã½ welcomed students from the Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama Summer Program for a Basic Hair Care Workshop. Participants learned the fundamentals of the cosmetology field firsthand, setting up a professional workstation and practicing proper washing, conditioning, and rinsing techniques. For many, it was their first real introduction to the skill and precision behind professional haircare.
Investing in What Comes Next
Across four very different programs and four very different age groups, one theme carried through all of June: giving young people a real, hands-on look at what their future could be. Whether it was a welding torch, a line of code, or a blow dryer, °®¶¹´«Ã½’s campus became a place where students didn’t just hear about career pathways but explore them.