NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

ANACORTES, WA — March 6, 2023

WAVE Tour washes over NW Washington

The Washington Apprenticeship Vocational Education (WAVE) Tour will welcome more than 25 high schools from Skagit, San Juan, Whatcom, Island, and north Snohomish County April 24-28 for a hands-on experience at the Northwest Carpenter’s Institute of Washington in Burlington. Each school brings up to 15 students who get to try six different trade stations that include hands-on activities to see which one they like best.

More than 450 juniors and seniors are expected to attend over five days with different trades being highlighted on different days. Participating trades include the Carpenters, Laborers Local 292, Electricians IBEW 191, Operating Engineers, Sheet Metal Workers, Plumbers & Pipefitters, Sprinkler Fitters, Snohomish County PUD, and Puget Sound Energy. Small groups of 15 students will move through trade-specific workstations for 30 minutes per station to get a deeper understanding of each apprenticeship trade. Activities include conduit bending, scaffolding, concrete assembly, utility pole work, an obstacle course, a piping project, and a crane simulator. Students get a pizza lunch, beverages, and a Labor & Industries “Apprenticeship 101” orientation.

“We want to thank Career Connect Washington and HF Sinclair who provided funding to make this event possible and to the NW Carpenter’s Institute for generously offering the use of their facility in Burlington,” said Jenny Veltri, NW Washington STEM Director, and Career Connect Washington NW Lead. “We’d also like to extend a huge thank you to the planning committee! Alex Kosmides from the NW Workforce Council, Greg Brady and Lee Carter from the NW Carpenter’s Institute, Sinead Fitzpatrick Plagge and Donovan Tate from the NWESD 189, all led by Mary Powers, also from the NWESD. Extra appreciation goes to Lindsay Fiker and Gary Peterson, who were instrumental in creating the WAVE Tour and have shared vital knowledge and insight!”

The NWESD, located in Anacortes, is one of nine Educational Service Districts in Washington State. The NWESD serves 35 school districts in San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties, and Lummi Tribal Nation Schools, providing leadership and cooperative services to the educational communities in the northwest region.

Contacts:

Media Inquiries: Jessica Owens, NWESD Communications Specialist | 360-299-4714
Program Information: Mary Powers, Career Connected Learning Specialist | 360-299-4052