Sophomores at Southern Local High School were among more than 100 area students who took part in Manufacturing Your Future, a program sponsored by the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center Business Advisory Council and U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli (R-Ohio) on Oct. 10. Teens had a chance to visit area businesses to learn about their processes and also toured CCCTC programs to highlight potential careers. Pictured are, front from left, SLHS students Aubrey Gilliam and Kiah Sloan; back, Aubree Pucci, Ava Reed, Sean Cope, Layla McCauley, Aurora (Dawn) Helman, Aiden Brown, Brody Hamilton, Kemper Jones, Preston Pitts and Jayden Brandenburg. (Submitted photo)

SALINEVILLE — A dozen Southern Local High School students got a close-up look at the working world by participating in the 2024 Manufacturing Your Future event at the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center.

More than 100 sophomores from 10 county districts gathered at the Lisbon site on Oct. 10, where they heard from U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli (R-Ohio), toured several facilities to learn about local jobs and even visited CCCTC programs to see what they had to offer. SLHS School Counselor Alannah Smith said it was a way to encourage the teens to think about their own future.

“It was a chance to tour local manufacturing companies and there were eight sites,” said SLHS counselor Alannah Smith. “They also got a chance to hear Rulli speak about his business successes.”

Among the facilities included in the tour were Butech Bliss, CQL, Ventra, MAC Manufacturing, Hickey Metals, Compco, Pennex Aluminum and CTM Labeling Systems. Smith said her students visited a few of the locations such as Butech and learned about the businesses.

“Kids asked questions and got to see firsthand what the companies were doing. They had activities and tried welding and using machinery, plus they got to watch workers do their jobs,” she added. “They also had lunch at the career center and toured the school.”

There, students also viewed CCCTC’s various programs including information technologies (IT), precision machining and multimedia.

“The kids enjoyed themselves,” Smith said. “I’m glad we’re targeting more kids who want to join the workforce. The county’s doing a good job with providing resources for that.”

The 2024 Manufacturing Your Future was sponsored by CCCTC Business Advisory Council and Rulli.