by Sarah DeMaranville
Geneseo Current
Geneseo High School students interested in skilled trades and career options outside the traditional four-year college route will soon have a new opportunity to hear directly from employers, unions, training programs, and technical colleges.
GHS is launching a Trades Interest Group on Friday, Oct. 9. The six-week group is open to students in all grade levels and will meet during WIN on Fridays.
The group is led by GHS school counselor Keyaira Lavine and is designed to give students a place to learn about apprenticeships, technical education, workforce opportunities, and other routes into skilled careers.
“Trades Interest Group is a group ran during WIN on Fridays for 6 weeks,” Lavine said. “Each week a different company comes in and talks about their jobs, training programs, etc. and on week 6 we go on a field trip.”
“Each year we [plan] different speakers gauged off what students say they want to learn about,” Lavine said. “The purpose is for students who are not interested in the traditional college route to have a place to learn more about apprenticeship programs, technical colleges, and right to work options.”
This year's schedule begins Oct. 9 with a session on trades basics. The Quad City Electrical Training Center is scheduled for Oct. 23, followed by a session focused on technical colleges Oct. 30.
Local 150 Operating Engineers will participate Nov. 6, followed by River City Metalworks Nov. 13. The program concludes Nov. 20 with a field trip to Local 25 Plumber/Pipefitter.
Topics throughout the six weeks will include apprenticeships, internships, technical colleges, unions, career opportunities, and other options for students considering careers in the trades.
Students who attend at least three meetings will qualify for the Local 25 field trip.
The district described the Trades Interest Group as one of many opportunities available for students to explore their interests.
“This group is one of many opportunities available to students throughout our district, and we are proud to offer a wide variety of teams, groups, clubs, and other extracurricular activities to explore,” Superintendent Dr. Laura Delgado said.
About One in Five 2026 Graduates Chose Workforce, Trades, or Military Paths
The new group comes as a significant portion of Geneseo graduates pursue options outside a traditional college program.
Among the 184 members of Geneseo High School's Class of 2026, 129 students, or about 70%, reported plans to attend college, according to information presented to the Geneseo School Board in June.
Another 15 students planned to enter vocational, technical, or apprenticeship programs, 18 planned to enter the workforce, and five planned to enter military service.
Combined, those three categories represented 38 graduates, or about 21% of the graduating class.
Building on Existing Career Programs
The Trades Interest Group adds to other efforts at GHS to connect students with employers, training opportunities, and potential careers.
Earlier this year, the school held its fourth annual Job Fair and Career Expo, bringing more than 60 businesses and organizations to GHS. Students had opportunities to learn about employment, internships, job shadowing, education requirements, and training.
GHS has also developed formal College and Career Pathway Endorsements. Those programs require students to complete a career-focused sequence of courses and at least 60 hours of work-based learning, along with other requirements.
The school's 2025-26 course planning guide identified pathways in Education and CNC Manufacturing, with additional pathways in Agriculture and Nursing under development.
The Trades Interest Group provides another option within that broader career-exploration effort, with a particular focus on students interested in apprenticeships, technical training, and entering the workforce.
The first meeting will be held Friday, Oct. 9, during WIN. Students interested in participating can sign up through the GHS Counseling Office.
