Hands-on activities allow students to gain first-hand experience in trades, technology careers at Highlands College Exploration Day
Highlands College of Montana Tech will host Highlands College Exploration Day for high school students on April 9, 2025.
Highlands College Exploration Day offers students hands-on experiences in their chosen field. The Construction Technology-Carpentry Program will showcase a variety of carpentry projects, while tours of the Machining Lab will demonstrate precision manufacturing on CNC machines and lathes, tours of the Radiologic Technology lab will demonstrate simulation activities, and the line workers will practice knot-tying and explore the bucket trucks, which are part of the Pre-Apprentice Line Program.
“You will have an opportunity to try new things at Highlands College Exploration Day,” Highlands College construction technology-carpentry student Jared Edwards said. “It's not going to be class time, it's going to be hands-on. You're going to be changing tires, building a wall, operating a CNC machine, or welding.”
Edwards stressed the importance of exposing high school students to choices in the trades and technology.
“Exploration Day helps you discover what you enjoy—and what you don’t,” Edwards said. “It’s important to try things out before committing to a major. You might be interested in something, but until you experience it, you won’t know if it’s truly for you.”
In addition to hands-on activities, students at Highlands College Exploration Day will tour the Highlands campus with current students, learn more about academic programs, enjoy a free lunch, and meet current Orediggers.
Zach Young is also a construction technology-carpentry student from Arizona. He says high school students should know that the trades offer lucrative career options for young people.
“There's a lot of money in the trades, with a lot of older folks retiring,” he said. “There's plenty of openings. That's the biggest thing for blue collar jobs right now, if you like to work with your hands, everybody’s hiring.”
Evan Winkler is a construction technology-carpentry student from Billings who emphasized that learning by doing is not just a part of Highlands College Exploration Day. It is what students experience every day as students on the Highlands College campus. Construction technology-carpentry students like Winkler spend two years building a three-bedroom, two-bath modular home from start to finish.
“The hands-on experiences are great here,” Winkler said. “The instructors are really good. They're very knowledgeable in the field.”
Winkler has already completed one internship with Jones Construction in Billings, and he feels he is well-prepared for the jobsite. Winkler, Young, and Edwards say they could sing the praises of the trades and Highlands College, but it’s better for students to come and experience the opportunities at Highlands College for themselves.
“We could sit here and talk with them, but they just need to come and try things out,” Edwards said.
To register for Highlands College Exploration Day, click here.