A fun day for the 1000 students at Rock Ridge in Virginia, as they got the chance to check out the Apprenticeship and Trades Expo.

About 40 different groups set up shop in the shops areas, letting them try things like virtual welding.

This is different than the Construct Tomorrow events that some have attended already, because it’s really focused on the benefits of apprenticeships.

Students we met enjoyed getting to see some of the different organizations and companies that their parents work at.

Ben Bakk, a 9th grader, said, “Definitely the engineering one where my dad works, and my mom works for Minnesota North so I went to that one too.”

Rock Ridge is set up as an academy model, where they partner with industries on a daily basis to prepare students.

This is just another experience they’ve added.

“Everybody here loves to get in front of the kids. They like the energy the kids bring,” shared Willie Spelts, Director of School to Work Engagement.