West Newsmagazine 5-1-24

16 I NEWS I
May 1, 2024
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
@WESTNEWSMAG
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
Trades take center stage at Build
My Future STL
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Local students at the 2024 Build My Future STL.
By DEANNE LEBLANC
The third annual Build My Future STL
took place at the St. Charles Family Arena
on April 24-25. The event featured handson
exhibits and virtual reality simulations
focusing on the building, trades and construction
industries. Over 2,000 students
from 70 high schools across 14 counties
were expected to be in attendance. The
event is co-chaired by representatives from
the Home Builders Association of St. Louis
& Eastern Missouri and the Francis Howell
School District, who aim to address labor
shortages in the industry.
The concept for Build My Future came
about in 2014 by industry professionals in
Springfield, Missouri, to remedy the “dwindling
pipeline of workers” and lack of interest
in the skilled trades. Today, Build My
Future is the largest event of its kind in the
country, and takes place annually in 12 states.
During Build My Future STL, students
get the opportunity to explore trade jobs
and meet local construction professionals
while having unique hands-on experiences.
In addition, there are virtual reality simulations,
educational displays, equipment operations
and learning labs in the areas of new
construction, plumbing, masonry, welding,
flooring, landscaping, roofing, siding, heavy
equipment machinery operation, excavating
and more.
Francis Howell College and Career Specialist
Katie Vargas said the top benefit for
students participating in the event is realworld,
experiential learning across the participating
industries.
“Classroom learning is important, for sure,
but students learn tremendously by doing,”
Vargas said. “Trying on a variety of jobs in
the trades at Build My Future allows students
to affirm their strengths and interests in
(Photos courtesy of Jeanie Smith)
multiple skill areas, which in turn helps them
better plan for their post-secondary future.”
Companies benefit as well, getting the
chance to engage with the workforce of the
next generation.
“As an educator, I feel like this generation
of students doesn’t get enough credit
for their innovation, creativity and selfawareness;
this event affirms that the future
is bright,” Vargas said.
Matt Schindler, career shadowing facilitator
at Rockwood School District, knows
that not every student wants to go to college.
“With student loan debt being what it is,
we are starting to see a shift in mindset from
many that college isn’t a must, especially
if you have to borrow money to attend,”
Schindler said. “This event exposes students
to zero-debt career options in a way
that schools are not able to do. From the
heavy machinery to the non-stop hands-on
activities, Build My Future is an invaluable
resource for the Rockwood District to
expose the students in our schools to a wide
variety of options that don’t require college
or college loans.”
In 2023, 47 states passed 115 laws about
career and technical education, which
increased financing for job training programs
and opportunities for work-based
learning beyond conventional high school
and college learning models. The goal of
this initiative is to reverse a long-term trend
away from vocational education that has
resulted in a scarcity of competent laborers.
The amount of shop courses offered
in American high schools has decreased,
and between 1982 and 2013, shop credits
dropped by more than 26%. In addition,
many school districts completely removed
industrial tech workshops, like welding and
See BUILD MY FUTURE, page 38