Fitch students learn about college alternatives


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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Austintown Fitch High School hosted a Trade Fair for students in grades 9-12 on Dec. 9. Representatives from the Western Reserve Building Trades visited the high school to talk about several different trades.

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By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI

abartolomucci@vindy.com

Representatives from the Western Reserve Building Trades made an appearance at Austintown Fitch High School on Dec. 9 for the semi-annual trade fair show.

Instead of the fair being open to only juniors and seniors like previous trade fairs, this time it was open to all grades in high school. The trade fair give out information to the students who may not want to go to college and would rather work toward a career right out of high school.

Marie Dockry, guidance counselor at Austintown Fitch, helped organize the trade fair this year with the help of Don Crane, the Western Reserve Building Trades Council President. The trade fair started with members from different trade companies talking to the students about apprenticeships and the different responsibilities of starting in a trade company instead of going to college.

“I was at a career fair just like this, 1972, when I first heard about the trade. I graduated in ‘73. The day I graduated, that night I started my apprenticeship. That’s just the way it worked out, it’s doable,” said Carlton Ingram, part of the Operating Engineers Local 66.

The trade company representatives emphasized a lot about how many apprenticeships are free for the students although they cost a lot of money for the company. Hearing this interested several students, who in turn asked for more information on the money aspect of apprenticeships. They were intrigued to learn that, while college can cost a lot of money depending on your financial situation and scholarship availability, working for a trade company can allow people to make money while acquiring useful stills that directly relate to their careers.

Austintown Fitch will continue its semi-annual Trade Fair in hopes of providing alternate opportunities for students who are not exactly sure what they want to do after graduation.

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