Career Pathways Newsletter

🚀 Welcome to the Trimester 3 Career Pathways Update!

As we wrap up another incredible school year, we are thrilled to share how our students are stepping out of the classroom and directly into the professional world. This edition celebrates our students taking the driver’s seat of their futures—whether they are testing real-world budgeting skills at our Test Drive event, earning top honors in regional legal and innovation competitions, or committing to vital careers in healthcare and education. Career Pathways is thriving in our district, as we are actively bridging the gap between graduation and career success through hands-on, high-impact experiences.

Looking ahead, our momentum only continues to grow with the launch of our new Royal Credit Union high school branch and an innovative dual-credit partnership with Dunwoody College of Technology. Our students aren't just preparing for the future; they are actively building it through powerful community partnerships. Check out our major milestones from this trimester and see how our students are turning today's training into tomorrow's opportunities!

Sincerely,
Katy Olson
Career Pathways Coordinator

⚡Students in Action⚡
 

🔨  Building the Future: Local Students Explore Careers with WeBuild

Our district recently partnered with the Construction Careers Foundation to participate in the WeBuild Initiative, a dynamic program designed to introduce high school students to the rewarding world of construction and the skilled trades. 

This full-day event was hosted at Gardner Builders, where students moved beyond the traditional classroom setting to connect directly with professionals leading local construction companies.

Throughout the day, students were able to:

• Explore High-Demand Career Paths: Participants discovered a vast array of roles available across the industry, from hands-on skilled trades to project management.

• Gain Practical Skills: Students participated in hands-on practice, getting a real feel for the trades through interactive exercises in drafting, drywalling, and electrical work.

• Set Future Goals: Industry experts met with students to share advice, help them visualize post-graduation opportunities, and outline practical steps to achieve their professional milestones.

🌍 Real-World Readiness: Test Drive Reality Fair for Juniors

In December, our entire junior class participated in the highly successful Test Drive event. Test Drive if offered to Juniors each year and gives high school students a real-life simulation of money and finances and lets them test drive their future to see what it takes to make it on their own as a 25-year-old. During the simulation, students choose their education level and career, are randomly assigned a family status, and calculate their net monthly salary. They are then tasked with managing their budget by paying for various expenses the average adult is faced with each month. They have to make decisions within each expense category, with the goal of getting through the month without running out of money. Through their participation, students gain a better understanding of what it takes to make it on their own and prepare for their future. This impactful event served as a perfect practical application of our Career Pathways programming, leaving our juniors with invaluable financial skills as they prepare for life after high school. 📊💰✨

The Career Pathways program was excited to host Minnesota State Senator, Heather Gustafson, at this event. She was able to talk with students and learn about the unique partnership between Royal Credit Union and the Career Pathway program at WBLAHS. 

The High School Branch: Banking "By Students, For Students"

Coming soon, our very own high school branch will serve as a hub for financial empowerment. Interns selected for this program won't just be observing; they will be:

• Operating a Live Branch: Managing deposits, withdrawals, and account inquiries for their peers and staff during school hours.

• Peer Educators: Designing and leading financial literacy activities, such as "Question of the Day" trivia, to help their classmates build smart money habits.

• Building a Culture: Creating a welcoming space where fellow students feel comfortable asking questions about their financial futures.

The Community Branch Experience: Real-World Professionalism

The learning doesn't stop at the school doors. To ensure a comprehensive professional foundation, our interns will also work at Royal Credit Union community branches.

• Professional Immersion: Students work alongside seasoned banking professionals after school and on weekends, interacting with a diverse range of community members.

• Advanced Training: Interns gain experience with RCU’s live banking systems, confidentiality protocols, and member service standards that are used across all 30+ Royal locations.

• Career Advancement: Students in this program can earn Work-Based Learning (WBL) elective credits toward graduation while gaining hours toward Industry-Recognized Credentials (IRCs). By participating, students leave high school with a competitive resume edge and a direct pathway to finance-related degrees at their college or university of choice.

"This program prepares you for the real world. I’ve learned how to communicate better as a team and with our members, all while gaining confidence in my own financial decisions." — Past Student Intern

 🌟 Student Celebrations 🌟

As the school year draws to a close, we are incredibly proud to spotlight some of the diverse achievements of our Career Pathways students who have turned their passions into tangible success.

🛠️ Innovation in Action: Make48 National Tournament Success

Huge congratulations to our talented team of innovators— Jack Firkus (11), Benjamin Bower (10), and Logan Blalock (11) —for taking 1st place in the R3P4 Xcel Energy Challenge! After touring the Xcel Energy facility in Hugo and speaking directly with local power line workers, the team identified a real-world struggle and engineered a specialized prototype to help workers securely grip wire bolts and nuts. Local plastics manufacturer, Westfall Technik, was instrumental in guiding the team and sharing their expertise for the design and prototype. In the end, the students' creative solution stood out in the first round of the Make48 National Tournament, proving that our students are ready to solve the industrial challenges of tomorrow. This incredible win earns them a spot in the live regional playoff event at UW-Stout from July 31st to August 2nd, which will be filmed for the Make48 television series. We are so proud of their hard work and can’t wait to share more information on how to watch the episode at this link soon! 🏆📺

🏦 Meet Our Royal Credit Union Student Interns

We are thrilled to announce that Addison Larson (11), Na Thao (10), Amiya Scott-Waddington (10), and Louie Blomgren (10 - not pictured) have been officially hired as our inaugural cohort of Royal Credit Union student interns! These four individuals will gain an incredibly unique career experience by managing our new on-site, student-led branch while simultaneously working alongside professionals at RCU community branch locations. By balancing peer-to-peer financial coaching with high-level industry training and experiences, these interns are launching their professional journeys with a level of real-world financial expertise that is truly unmatched at the high school level. 💳💼✨

Industry Certifications Earned by WBLAHS Students This Year

🤝 Expanding Post-Secondary Connections: Dunwoody Immersive

We are excited to announce a new partnership with Dunwoody College of Technology starting in Fall 2026. This initiative, known as Dunwoody Immersive, introduces a series of technical courses that utilize Virtual Reality (VR) labs to provide hands-on training right here on our campus. These Dunwoody courses are designed to align with our current Career Pathways while offering a more robust, tech-driven experience for students looking to deepen their skills in specialized fields.

Through this pilot partnership, juniors and seniors can enroll in two specific pathways:

• Fundamentals of DC Circuits: Students explore electrical engineering and construction by building and troubleshooting circuits in a gamified VR environment.

• History of Global Architecture: This course allows students to virtually explore influential monuments and decode the cultural and technological forces that shape the built environment.

By participating in this program, students gain access to Dunwoody’s industry-informed curriculum, allowing them to explore high-demand fields like robotics, renewable energy, and urban planning. These experiences provide a practical bridge to post-secondary training and help students build a strong technical foundation before graduation. 🏗️🌐✨

If interested in this opportunity, please email Katy Olson, Career Pathways Coordinator, at katy.olson@isd624.org.  More information can be found here. 

2026/27 Career Pathways Events

Career Connect Day - October 13

Career Fair, WBLAHS - November 3

Career Fair, Central Middle School - December 9

Test Drive Reality Fair - December 17