Students Explore Transportation and Technical Careers | Video

Kristin Clouston | 5/2/2012

Washburn junior Alexis Hetle still has some time to think about it, but has started exploring career options and might follow in her father footsteps.

"My Dad`s into construction and is a heavy equipment operator and someday I was thinking of maybe taking the opportunity to give it a chance," she said.

She and at least 350 other students from through out the state are getting hands on experience learning about transportation and technical careers.

"You know I really think girls can do just as much as guys can do, they may be able to do it a little better. It may take girls a little longer but we can still succeed the same," she said.

And the jobs are out there.

"There`s diesel mechanics, there`s engineers. There`s construction opportunities. We`ve got simulators so they can do something like drive a plane or a snow plow and we have all kinds of things for them to look at," said Career Resource Coordinator Donna Fricke.

Century senior Austin Rasmusson has already gotten into the auto tech program at BSC but says he enjoyed seeing what else was out there.

"The semi simulator, that was really fun. Got to drive a semi. Had three screens around you," he said.

Students also got to check out jobs with the department of transportation, and companies that hire surveyors and inspectors. More than 20 high schools sent students to the career fair. Some came all the way from Rugby to check out the opportunities.

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