Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna and several state officials will join hundreds of rural eastern Idaho students and local businesses for a day-long career expo and engineering challenge on Sept. 23 at the Lemhi County Fairgrounds in Salmon.
“We hope this expo will inspire students from rural Idaho communities to set education and career goals that will help our state remain vibrant and prosperous in the future,” said Merry Logan, manager of the Idaho Department of Labor’s Salmon office.
The expo, which runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., will feature dozens of interactive displays and exhibits aimed at inspiring students to pursue higher education and specialized careers. Members of the U.S. military and representatives from several Idaho colleges and universities will discuss training and scholarships while local businesses involved in manufacturing, fabrication, emergency services, heavy equipment operations and utilities will be on hand with government officials to discuss career opportunities.
There will be an engineering competition in which schools will compete to build the best catapult. The school that launches a water balloon the farthest will win a $5,000 cash prize provided by Blackfoot-based Premier Technology.
In its second year, the career expo is organized by the Rural Idaho Outreach Partners and supported by the Idaho Department of Labor, Salmon High School, Premier Technology, the Lemhi County Economic Development Association and the Idaho National Laboratory. Members of the partnership work with students and community leaders in eastern Idaho to stimulate economic growth, create high-paying jobs and maintain a strong, skilled work force.
Media are invited to the event.