Springfield stop latest on Sanders' high-school tour

Students at Springfield High School got a visit Friday from Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-VT who hosted a College and Career Fair to inform them about their options and resources after graduation.

U.S. Congressman Peter Welch was also in attendance.

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Springfield stop latest on Sanders’ high-school tour | January 27, 2018 By PATRICK ADRIAN padrian@eagletimes.com SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Students at Springfield High School got a visit Friday from Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., who hosted a College and Career Fair to inform them about their options and resources for after graduation. Sanders was met with cheers from students and faculty members as he stepped to the podium to begin the event. The event was one of many events Sanders is holding with high-schoolers throughout the state, Sanders’ spokesperson Dan McLean said. The purpose is to help student become more aware of their options. “We live in a competitive global economy,” Sanders told the crowd that filled the auditorium, “Most of the new jobs being created require higher education or post-secondary education.” Following a short opening address by Sanders, students were invited to ask questions to a guest pane. The panel was made up of Rep. Peter Welch, D-at large; Marilyn Cargill of Vermont Student Assistance Corporation; college student Heather Morse; River Valley Technical Center graduate Lakota Blaisdell; and Sean Buchanan, vice president of sales and marketing at Reinhart Foodservice. Roughly half of the student population indicated by show of hands an interest in attending college after graduation. Many, however, expressed feeling overwhelmed. Kayla Gibbons, Class of 2020, was one of several students who worried about managing a college course load. Gibbons wants to play on a sports team. Other students had certain learning struggles. Sanders said all colleges today provide a multitude of academic support and services for students. Perhaps the biggest concern among students was the affordability of college. When asked by a student about scholarships, Cargill told students to apply first for local scholarship, and look at lists from Vermont Student Assistance Corporation before conducting online searches. Morse, a recent high school graduate, shared her experience with Upward Bound, a federally funded program that helps high school students with enrolling and transitioning into a post-secondary education. In addition to building her confidence and helping her with the application process, Morse was able to enter college with 15 credits and and scholarships to fully fund her education. “Upward Bound helped me get ahead of the game,”Morse said. Springfield junior Jocelyn Hunt took advantage of dual enrollment and AP classes, which enable students to earn college and high school credits to study college level coursework at no additional cost. While stressing the importance of higher education, Sanders said college was not the only option for students. He noted that neither he nor his brother attended college. “You can do it but you need to learn how to do it,” Sanders said. Springfield graduate Lakota Blaiswell, who studied at the district’s vocational school, turned study in mechanical design and innovation into a senior-year work study at North Hartland Tools. At 18, he is machining, and the youngest member of the workforce. “In certain job trades, the best way to learn is to do it,” he told the audience. Local food industry executive Sean Buchanan, whose Springfield-based company provides 350 jobs, said he was not a great student but compensated during college by being a hard worker. Buchanan gave students reason for optimism about Springfield, pointing to its rebuilding and improving economy. But h expressed a similar difficulty as other area business owners in finding workers with the proper motivation and work ethic. “Show up every day, work hard, tell your boss that you want to move up,” Buchanan said. “Vermont has given me upward mobility because I work for it [and] my employees work for it.” Following the discussion, students explored scheduled workshops or visited booths in the gymnasium, where representatives from more than 30 state and area colleges and career programs waited. Sanders and Welch meet with Springfield students Patrick McArdle | January 27, 2018 SPRINGFIELD – On Friday, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders hosted a college and career fair Friday at Springfield High School to help Vermont students plan their future after high school graduation. Sanders, I-Vt., discussed how students could most effectively apply for college and secure financial aid. He also highlighted apprenticeships and job-training programs that lead to good-paying jobs in Vermont. Following opening remarks by Sanders and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., Sanders led a panel discussion with a representative from the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, a local employer, and former Springfield High School and River Valley Technical Center students. Sanders told the students that 50 years ago, a high school diploma could be enough to get a job that paid a livable wage . “But that has changed. While not all middle-class jobs in today’s economy require post-secondary education, an increasing number do. By 2020, two-thirds of all jobs in Vermont will require some education beyond high school,” Sanders said. Sanders noted that not every student wants to go to college and not every decent-paying job requires a four-year college degree. “It is important to understand what kind of job training you may need for the jobs that are available in our changing economy,” Sanders said. “Maybe it’s a two-year associate degree, or a certificate or credential program, or perhaps an apprenticeship. There are resources and information here today to help you figure that out, and to improve your career prospects” Welch encouraged students to “consider your options and start planning ahead for the future.” “Apprenticeships, certificate programs, and college degrees are all gateways to good-paying jobs in our changing economy,” he said. The fair also featured workshops and information tables on topics such as choosing a college, applying for financial aid and opportunities for apprenticeships or job training. Students from Springfield High School as well as Green Mountain Union High School, Bellows Falls Union High School, Black River High School and River Valley Technical Center attended the fair.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders poses with high school students Dora Jones and Emily Wunderle.

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