UPDATE: Over 1,100 middle school students are actively exploring diverse career paths at the Youth T4 Summit in East Grand Forks, taking place this week at Northland Community and Technical College. The event, held on Thursday and Friday, is a key initiative aimed at connecting young learners with local industry professionals.
The summit is designed to highlight lucrative job opportunities in the region, with state energy education coordinator Shawn Brink emphasizing its role in retaining talent within North Dakota and Minnesota. “We want to show you that there are high-paying jobs so you can stay in your communities, raise your families, and be productive citizens,” Brink stated during his opening remarks.
Each participating student has the chance to engage in five 35-minute sessions that delve into key industries such as healthcare, construction, energy, agriculture, and miscellaneous. This structured approach ensures that students receive a wide-ranging exposure to various fields, despite not being able to select their sessions. “This is career exploration. We want you to experience things you haven’t even thought about,” Brink urged, encouraging students to keep an open mind.
Eric Ripley, executive director of career and technical education for Grand Forks Public Schools, highlighted the importance of broadening students’ career options. He described a “pyramid of career development” that begins with exposing younger students to numerous possibilities before they narrow their focus in high school.
This summit, now in its second year, is a significant expansion of the original T4 Summit concept, which started in Watford City in 2019. The program has quickly grown to include summits in eight cities across both states, reflecting increasing interest and demand from students and educators alike.
Brink noted that the hands-on experiences foster meaningful communication between students and industry professionals, making this summit distinct from traditional career fairs. “It bridges that communication gap that kids have when they go to a traditional career fair,” he explained, underscoring the summit’s focus on active engagement rather than passive information gathering.
The summit has already reached its student capacity in East Grand Forks and other hosting cities, prompting organizers to seek additional local businesses to participate. “We need more businesses of all kinds to get involved,” Brink said, reiterating that his team is ready to assist in crafting relevant activities for participating industries.
The event is structured to accommodate different groups of students each day. On Thursday, students from several local schools, including East Grand Forks Central Middle School and Grand Forks South Middle School, participated. On Friday, students from schools such as Schroeder Middle School and Thompson Public School took part in the sessions.
This year’s summit reflects a growing emphasis on career and technical education, which is increasingly prioritized across the state. With the momentum building, Brink confidently stated, “If you build it, they’ll come,” indicating that the program is poised for further expansion and success.
As the Youth T4 Summit continues, students are encouraged to embrace new experiences and discover potential career paths that may shape their futures. This initiative not only seeks to inform but also inspires the next generation to envision their roles in the workforce of tomorrow.
