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2026 Career Challenge Day at RTCC

by Jillian Scannell

Student at Career Challenge Day at RTCC try various hands-on activities.

 

On March 24, 2026, Vermont Works for Women (VWW) and Randolph Technical Career Center (RTCC) were thrilled to host another successful Career Challenge Day on Tuesday, March 24. 

We welcomed 45 girls and gender-expansive students from 4 different schools for a day of hands-on exploration and connection at RTCC. 

Visiting students learned about each of the programs RTCC offers through engaging, hands-on activities led by RTCC students and instructors. These activities allowed students to get a glimpse into a wide variety of fields that are non-traditional for women and gender-expansive folks, including: 

  • Automotive Technology – used a tire jack, used a wheel balancing machine, and removed lug nuts with a torque wrench 
  • Construction Trades & Management – tried a variety of power tools including a miter saw, scroll saw, circular saw, and wood burners
  • Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management – made a batch of whipped cream from scratch (and taste-tested it on an ice cream sundae)
  • Diesel Technology – learned how to solder by making bracelets and keychains out of electrical wire
  • Digital Filmmaking & Media Arts – tested podcasting equipment, learned about 3-point lighting, used a digital camera, and used photo editing software
  • Diversified Agriculture – made their own beeswax lip balm, learned how to felt with wool, and visited the greenhouse
  • Electrical Technology – wired an outlet and light, learned about oscilloscopes and multimeters, and practiced using a Sawzall 
  • Manufacturing & Fabrication – participated in an engineering challenge to build remote control car wheels out of cardboard and popsicle sticks
  • Pre-Technical Foundations – explored a variety of topics pre-tech students get to learn about – from making flowers out of pipe cleaners to working on diesel engines
A student uses a miter saw at Career Challenge Day at RTCC Student whisk cream in culinary arts at Career Challenge Day at RTCC

 

 

 

 

 

Why is Career Challenge Day Important?  

Research and our experience prove that early exposure to STEM and trades career fields inspires more girls and gender-expansive students to enroll in their tech center and/or pursue fields where their gender is often underrepresented. It is clear from the student feedback that participants felt safe, inspired, and like they explored something they might have not thought about before Career Challenge Day. 

Students work with felt at Career Challenge Day at RTCC Student wires an electrical plug at Career Challenge Day at RTCC

 

 

 

 

 

Student Feedback 

Students complete a survey at the end of the day, giving VWW and RTCC valuable information about their experience. See below for a short recap of survey results

  • 86%      I tried something new today that I might not have tried on my own.
  • 93%      I feel more confident in what I am capable of after participating in Career Challenge Day.  
  • 95%      I felt encouraged to take on challenges beyond my comfort zone at Career Challenge Day.
  • 98%      Career Challenge Day increased my ideas about what girls, women, and gender-expansive people are capable of.

When asked about their day, students shared:

  • “I tried using the saws and it was cool and fun.“
  • “I like hands-on learning.“
  • “I am capable of anything if I try”
  • “I can do a lot of things that I thought were hard.”
  • “I like doing auto, electrical, and hands-on stuff more than I thought.”
  • “I have many opportunities.”

 

Thank you to everyone who made the day possible: volunteers, visiting schools and students, RTCC staff and instructors, and current RTCC students. To learn more about Career Challenge Day at RTCC or be notified of the event next year, please contact Ada Case at acase@vtworksforwomen.org