High school seniors explore career paths in trade & industry at PBSC

Forty high school seniors from Palm Beach Lakes High School and William T. Dwyer High School toured PBSC’s Education and Training Center for skilled trades and construction programs on Feb. 26 at the Lake Worth campus.

The tour was part of Public Administration Day hosted by the South Florida Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) in partnership with the College. The NFBPA is a nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of public leadership in local and state governments. The event provided high school students with exposure to career opportunities in public service and skilled trades.

Students toured the automotive lab, marine mechanic lab, welding lab, HVAC and electrical lab. They viewed live demonstrations by industry professionals, met program directors and instructors and participated in a Q&A session with faculty and current PBSC students. Students also learned about the PBSC application process and received enrollment guidance.

“As a lot of people are questioning whether higher education is for them, they are finding that trade and industry programs give them faster access into industry,” said Ronnie Malave, PBSC Dean of Student Services. “Palm Beach State College cares about your success and we have the resources to help support you throughout your studies here.”

Students in PBSC’s Trade & Industry programs can choose career pathways in fields such as cosmetology, manufacturing, construction and transportation. Students learn from professionals with years of experience, graduate with industry certifications and gain experience in hands-on labs and classrooms featuring the latest technology at a fraction of the cost of a four-year degree. Many programs can be completed in less than a year and lead to high-wage careers. In fact, PBSC graduates earn up to 65% more than the average high school graduate in Palm Beach County.

Jonathan Carias-Martinez from Palm Beach Lakes High School was one of the students who attended the event. The 17-year-old is interested in becoming an electrician after seeing his uncle work in the field. He enjoyed speaking with instructors and learning more about the Residential and Commercial Electrician program.

“I came to this event to look for more opportunities and see if I should come to Palm Beach State,” Carias-Martinez said. “I'm pretty sure as of right now I will come here.”

More than 50% of Palm Beach Lakes High School students attend PBSC, said Wanda Thomas, School Counseling Director at Palm Beach Lakes High School. She believes more students should be exposed to careers in the trades because they can run their own businesses, support their families and become successful working in exciting fields.

“I hope that this is the steppingstone that opens the door to new possibilities for our students, who may not have understood what direction they wanted to go into.” Thomas said. “I truly believe this opportunity will open up a whole new world for some students from these two schools, and we're going to see them accomplish amazing things as a result.”