LISBON — The Columbiana County Career and Technical Center (CCCTC) will be hosting its fifth annual middle school career exploration event with a fun twist for Halloween on Thursday, Oct. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the CCCTC located at 9364 state Route 45.

The CCCTC is kicking off its introduction to career and technical education to middle schoolers from Columbiana County through an event called “Trades and Treats.” Any middle school student from Columbiana County and surrounding county schools who are eligible for open enrollment are invited to our building along with their parents/guardians and immediate family members to enjoy a relaxed, open house-style event. Attendees are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes as there will be gift card prizes for the best middle school students’ costumes. Students are encouraged to visit all of the career labs so that they can have exposure to the programs that they can choose from when they visit again as sophomores. Prizes will be awards at the end of the night (approximately 7:45 p.m.) including an opportunity to win a Nintendo Switch.

During this event, students will be introduced to the different career paths that will be available to them when they enter their junior year of high school. As part of this evening, middle school students and their families will get to see the renovations that have occurred in many of the career center’s labs over the past few years, be introduced to the newest program, criminal justice, in its second year of existence, as well as visit all of the veteran programs. This is a hands-on event where students accompanied by their parents/guardians and immediate families can move about the building freely and can visit up to 13 career path labs available for enrollment. Each lab will have treats for the students and students will have the opportunity to complete a fun Halloween career path-related activity. In addition, during some of the lab visits, students will be able to make items that they get to keep and take home.

As a follow-up to 8th grade tours held in late September and early October, this event is intended to be an introduction to what the CCCTC has to offer. In each lab setting, the visitors will meet the lab instructor, exemplary students currently enrolled in the career path, and will get hands-on experiences through different activities that are a part of the high school course. During the event, light fall themed refreshments will be provided as well as the costume contest and door prizes with the grand prize being a Nintendo Switch.

Since 1977, the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center has provided career-technical training programs for high school students in the surrounding communities. CCCTC offers a focused, career-oriented education for students who wish to achieve success in a chosen career, in college, in the military, or wherever their paths may lead. Students benefit from hands-on training in programs grouped under eight career cluster categories: Agriculture and Environmental Systems, Construction Technologies, Health Science, Hospitality and Tourism, Information Technology, Law and Public Safety, Manufacturing, and Transportation Systems.