EDMONDS

Students from high schools across South Central County arrived by bus Thursday morning to collect hard hats and safety vests for a day of trade-focused activity.

More than 200 young people participated in Trade Up, an annual gathering that occupied a parking lot at Edmonds College. Sponsored by the Snohomish and Island County Labor Council along with Workforce Snohomish, the program provides teenagers with direct experience of apprenticeships and career paths in the skilled trades.

Attending Trade Up allows participants to discover areas of personal interest, according to Vanessa Medalla, coordinator for business partnerships and career-connected learning within Career and Technical Education for the Edmonds School District.

Typical career fairs rarely offer physical engagement, she noted. Here, participants perform the actual tasks they might perform later in their careers.

The schedule for teens extends beyond operating equipment. It simulates a standard workday, requiring participants to log hours on a timesheet, pause for a midday break, and receive pay in the form of a $10 Fred Meyer gift card.

For a student within the Edmonds School District, Yousef Lukata, the event serves as an opportunity to explore practical career options.

I am eager to learn and try new things alongside my friends, he stated as his group prepared to visit their first station.

The Snohomish and Island County Labor Council organizes three Trade Up gatherings annually throughout the county, stated Charlotte Murry, the council's secretary-treasurer. Participants spend 15 minutes at each station, which represent fields ranging from machinery operation to meat cutting.

Every station features an activity reflecting a typical day in that specific line of work, she explained.

According to a press release, students are presented exclusively with union career opportunities at the gathering.

Representatives from Laborers International Union of North America Local 292, Scott Rockwell and Micah Stoin, outlined their activities for attendees.

Not everyone needs to attend college or work in that kind of environment, Rockwell said. That led me to the trades. I prefer being outdoors. I enjoy using my hands and watching something get completed physically.

Stoin added that working in the trades allows individuals to earn a wage while learning and to obtain health coverage.

It represents a career trajectory that is difficult to overlook, he said.

Inside a trailer belonging to the Machinists Institute, Kim Dove, the institute's Boeing programs director, assisted attendees in operating virtual welding equipment. Behind him, a 3D printer produced identical toy boats in various colors.

Outside, Herman Calzadillas, the institute's regional director of operations, instructed them regarding available training pathways.

The world will keep changing, he said. We want participants to recognize that they must remain students throughout their lives.

A student from Mariner High School, Abe Flores, gained new knowledge Thursday after securing rebar for the first time.

It made me respect those who perform that work, he said.

Within Brier Hall, International Union of Operating Engineers No. 302 operated a virtual simulator where participants maneuvered an excavator to load a dump truck.

Many people believe it is simpler than it actually is, said Levi Johnson, an IVOE 302 member who guided each student through the simulation.

Operating engineers construct, run, and maintain infrastructure and critical facilities, according to the International Union of Operating Engineers website.

Meadowdale High School senior Maxwell Strieck, accompanied by peers Luis Gibson and Vinny Meucci, used the simulator. Strieck said he joined the gathering to seek apprenticeship pathways and build professional connections. Gibson described the event as a chance to test his own limits.

Nearby, representatives from the meat cutting industry were cooking sausage and distributing samples. Pat Donnelly, an instructor at South Seattle College, noted that crafting food to personal preference is among the trade's most rewarding aspects. Donnelly has participated in several events like this and enjoys witnessing students discover their options.

"It's like a light switch behind their eyes," he said.

Noah Mallindine, who works in the meat department at Town Country Market, explained that he pursued meat cutting to acquire a universally applicable skill. He expressed particular interest in European cuisine, reasoning that a skill in high demand across the Atlantic would simplify his ability to relocate abroad.

Organizers report that Trade Up connects with over 1,000 students annually and operates in more than 10 school districts. The program has operated across the county for 12 years, with this event marking its fourth year in Edmonds.

Additional booths included representatives from the Port of Everett and Snohomish County Public Works.

Murry indicated that high school juniors and seniors seeking involvement should contact their school's CTE departments to verify participation.