Students explore Career options at Vocational Resource Fair

June 2, 2023

Velia Moncada

Gila River Indian News

Elementary students through seniors in high school had the opportunity to learn more about vocational trades at a resource fair on May 15 at the District 3 service center. More than 35 people attended the event, which included 11 booths with information about a variety of career paths that don’t require a traditional four-year degree. 

“I just want to make sure students know that if they aren’t ready for college, that it’s okay,” said Lance Reyna, K-12 program manager for the Gila River Tribal Education Department (TED), which hosted the fair. “There are other avenues and options.”  

Students at the fair visited booths handing out promotional items and were able to talk to presenters about broader options for education after high school. 

Organizations from within the Community and a few from outside were represented, including Gila River Telecommunications Inc., OSP Communications, Digital Connect Initiative, Central Arizona College, Arizona Council on Economic Education, Gila River Farms, The Refrigeration School, Job Corps, U.S. Department of Labor, Gila River Health Care and Gila River Health Care Behavioral Health Services.

Francis Antone, a Community member working physician’s assistant at Gila River Health Care, represented a Career Pathways Program booth from Gila River Health Care. The program aims to invite youth to explore careers in the healthcare field so that more Community members enter the medical industry. 

“The goal of this program is to increase the number of Community members in healthcare fields so that we can have more Community members helping our own people,” said Antone.