Students Explore Hands-On Careers at Yuma Fairgrounds March 5-6

High school and middle school students left applications and resumes with employers after a two-day, hands-on YSWCA Career & Trade Experience held March 5 and 6 at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, 2520 E. 32nd St. The event, organized by YSWCA, brought more than 50 local businesses to the fairgrounds to give students direct exposure to careers in the community.

The 2-day YSWCA Career & Trade Experience featured interactive stations where students practiced crane operation, nail and screw driving and working with PEX piping. Organizers described the event as designed for High School and Middle School students to explore a multitude of opportunities in career placement within our community, and teachers reported tangible outcomes as students applied on site. The teacher testimonial read in part: “Thank you and YSWCA for the opportunity given to my students to attend the YSWCA Career Expo. It was a great event! I was excited to see an expo here in Yuma. I have taken my students to similar events in Phoenix and Tucson. However, your event meant more to my students because it was local companies reaching out to them. There was an exhibit for every interest and my students especially enjoyed the hands-on events; the crane operation, nail/screw driving, and PEX were favorites. The students were excited by the many job opportunities and left applications and resumes with several of the participating companies. To my surprise, my students were also happy to see the middle schools at the event. They felt [...] Students enjoyed the hands-on activities and were excited to see careers that are available in their communities. Students expressed appreciation for the event and especially liked hearing from employers who are local.

Thank you and we look forward to attending future events.”

A student who attended captured the change in perspective: “I never knew much about these trades, because I didn’t have enough knowledge, but after the C&TE, learning how much they make and the different opportunities, I realized that there’s still so much to learn, and it is reassuring and helpful to those who don’t know what they want to do yet or decide to go directly to the workforce. My Favorite part was the hands on activities.”

Military and technical employers continued outreach in the region earlier in the year. Teresa Elizalde and Janett Rios with YPG’s S1 Workforce Development Division joined students on Jan. 24, 2025, at H.L. Suverkrup, and Soldiers with the Airborne Test Force attended the 3rd Annual Career and Technical Education event. Staff Sgt. Angel Viveros, a rigger/test jumper, and Sgt. Christian Ramirez, a medic with the Airborne Test Force, talked with students about parachute testing and rescue roles, with Sgt. Ramirez showing students the parachutes used by test jumpers. Air Delivery Branch Chief and engineer Carlos Anaya, along with engineers Edgar Hurtado and Cullen Wilkes, shared career paths in engineering. Organizers report 250 middle and high school students from Yuma County attended that CTE event, with students coming from as far south as San Luis and east as Antelope in Roll.

Arizona Western College will keep the pipeline moving with the Yuma Transfer and Career Expo on Monday, March 2, in the 3C Hall of Fame at the AWC-Yuma Campus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Over 30 employers, agencies, organizations and universities were scheduled to attend. Angela Amezaga, AWC Transfer Services and Program Coordinator, said, “The Yuma Transfer and Career Expo is for all students to explore career and educational opportunities,” and “It is never too early to start planning for their future.” For more information AWC lists transfer.center@azwestern.edu or (928) 344-7638.

The Yuma County Fairgrounds continues to serve as the regional hub for expos and workforce events; its calendar lists the venue at 2520 E. 32nd St. and upcoming attractions including the 74th Annual Fair March 31 through April 5, 2026, and a Yuma County scholarship application deadline on March 6, 2026. Schools and educators coordinating career activities can contact the Yuma County Superintendent’s Office & Education Service Agency at (928) 373-1006, fax (928) 248-4470, or visit 197 S. Main St., Ste. 202, Yuma, AZ 85364 during business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Yuma institutions from YSWCA to YPG and AWC are sustaining a local pipeline of employers, military testers and colleges aiming to connect students to jobs and STEM careers in Yuma County.