COEUR d’ALENE— For many, life after high school is filled with confusion and uncertainty when it comes to a career.

North Idaho College is trying to combat that. 

On Wednesday, around 70 high school students or recent graduates met in the Hedlund Building to learn about local opportunities. 

Students toured Gizmo Coeur d’Alene, the robotics lab and the NIC X-labs in an interactive experience aimed at giving students and young adults the chance to learn about STEM career opportunities. 

“They don’t know what they don’t know,” said Ferris High School teacher Joel Gillespie, “Getting kids to see that there are good jobs that pay them livable wages without needing a four-year degree.” 

Students from North Idaho and Spokane were invited to attend the event that began four years ago.

James Jordan, who plans to attend NIC in the fall, said these kinds of events have provided him clarity.

At first, Jordan wanted to join the military, but realized that he likes working with his hands and decided to pursue an education and career in diesel mechanics.

“Its really helped me realize what I want after high school,” he said. 

Adam Knapp, a high school senior, said it helped solidify his desire to study construction management. 

“This has helped me identify what it’s going to be like,” he said.

Lucas Cratty, a high school senior, said it helped him find more career options.

“It’s helped me discover more options with what I want to do. At the beginning of this year, I thought I was going to lineman school,” he said. 

Gillespie said local industry trends look positive for those that are willing to learn. 

“The need is so high in the trades right now, companies are offering to train inexperienced kids,” he said. 

Getting young adults trained and experienced in the trades and STEM is a huge focus for NIC, which now operates Gizmo Coeur d’Alene, a robotics lab and X-Labs all on campus.

The next focus is to get a high school robotics team onto campus for training and experience in building and programming in automation. 

According to Marita Diffenbaugh, the potential robotics team would be the only one in North Idaho.

“That could be a huge life lesson for them, getting comfortable with the uncomfortable,” she said. 

    Dawson Burress gives a presentation to students in the NIC robotics lab.
  

    Christopher Wood holds a talk about his career path with students.