Students get hands-on with trades at “Build My Future” career event

ONALASKA, Wis. (WXOW) – It wasn’t your average school day for the more than 1,400 students who packed the Onalaska Omni Center on Wednesday.

Instead of sitting in a classroom, they were welding, wiring, operating excavators, and even simulating firefighting as part of the third annual Build My Future career event.

The hands-on experience is designed to expose high school students to skilled trades and construction careers by letting them try it for themselves.

From pouring concrete to testing electrical panels, students rotated through real-world stations hosted by local professionals and employers.

“I did the excavator with the cone,” Onalaska High School Sophomore Xander Wuensch said. “I brought it into a circle. It was just fun to do in general.”..