Over 1,000 students have registered for the Tool Expo, a career expo for high schoolers. Businesses will set up at Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center, 1855 Calvary Church Road, Gainesville, GA, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Participants include nine North Georgia counties, including Hall. At the Tool Expo, students have the opportunity to operate heavy equipment, test various construction tools, and engage with professionals from the industry.
In its fourth year, Horace Kilgore, an instructor at East Hall High School, started the event to help students become acquainted with various trades. “I just really have a heart for the trades,” Horace said, “and I dedicate the rest of my life to helping our youth understand how to make the transition into the working world. That’s how I teach – just being real with them and teaching a few skills along the way. Then we end it with them getting employed.”
Kilgore said that Hall County will have around 650 students participating, with the rest of the students being from other high schools. “So much experience and knowledge is obtained just from the students seeing the different careers and how the career ladder works in most companies,” Kilgore added.
The event aims to bridge the skills gap in the construction industry by introducing students to potential career paths and providing them with practical experiences. It serves as a platform for students to connect with industry professionals and explore various opportunities in the field.
“The career jobs that have come out of this event are through the roof. I didn’t track the first year, but over 100 seniors have gone to work with companies over the last two years,” Kilgore said.
