Workday Wednesday at Bellows Falls Union High School
Last week BDCC staff were part of an information session for high schoolers with an interest in pursuing their Commercial Drivers License. Representatives from Casella, Green Mountain Power, and Northeast Driver Training school provided information on learning and career pathways in Vermont. The following is an excerpt from this week’s BFUHS newsletter about the event:
WorkDay Wednesday at BFUHS!
On Wednesday, March 12th, we welcomed professionals from the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation’s Pipelines and Pathways (BDCC), Casella Talent Acquisition, Green Mountain Power and an instructor from Northeast Driver Training School to meet students interested in obtaining their Commercial Driver License (CDL). 17 BFUHS students, in grades 9-12 all gathered to learn more about high wage and high growth jobs requiring a CDL. Our students discovered many different opportunities locally and nationally for work in a variety of settings; including electrical line work, delivery, recycling, solutions, energy and more.
Our panelists were engaging and shared tremendous information with our students. Our students have the opportunity to follow up with these professionals in a variety of ways, including job shadows, tours and at our Fearless Futures Fair on April 2nd.
Joining us on March 12th were Christy Betit and Jen Stromsten from BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways division; Archie Gleason, BF graduate and instructor at Northeast Driver Training School; Tony Volpone with Casella as well as Emily Willis, Human Resources at Green Mountain Power and Fred Waryas, BF graduate and Line Worker at Green Mountain Power. Fred also brought a bucket truck for the students interested in electrical line work to check out!
We would like to thank our panelists for volunteering their time to meet with our students and our teachers for encouraging their students to explore different career options despite the different academic schedule it creates. We’re also very proud of our students for stepping out of their comfort zone and asking questions of area professionals!
Additionally, we would like to thank the J.Warren and Lois McClure Foundation for providing funds for a luncheon for our panelists. The generosity of our greater community helps to not only make career exploration possible for many our students, but it also creates a sense of excitement for life after high school. We are very grateful at BFUHS for the support of our community and the unique career exploration opportunities they afford us.”
About BDCC’s Pipelines & Pathways
BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways Program (P3) provides career education within the four southeastern Vermont public high schools and the Windham Regional Career Center. P3 helps students develop their personalized learning plans (PLP) by providing work-based learning experiences that increase their knowledge of career opportunities and achieve their postsecondary goals. Students develop soft skills, financial literacy, knowledge about economic sectors and skills that are in-demand through hands-on informational interviews, work-based learning, and mentorships. Pipelines & Pathways is a BDCC Workforce Center of Excellence program based on SeVEDS strategies to increase the size and quality of the region’s workforce. For more information please visit: https://brattleborodevelopment.com/engaging-with-high-school-students/
P3 was originally launched as a five year pilot, thanks to historic investment from the Vermont Community Foundation and McClure Foundation, the Vermont Training Program, WCEDP Vermont Yankee closure funds, and municipal contributions to SeVEDS. In 2023, at the end of that pilot phase, P3 reached a major program milestone by commitments from the private sector. M&T Bank, whose support was matched by local employers G.S. Precision and C&S Wholesale Grocers joins funding partners McClure Foundation, the George W. Mergens Foundation, the Windham Regional Career Center, the West River Education District, and the Windham Southwest Supervisory Union, in supporting P3 across southeastern Vermont. Portions of the program also receive support through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) program of the Northern Border Regional Commission.
