T4 Summit in Stanley allows for career, education exploration in rural communities

STANLEY, N.D. (KMOT) - Even though North Dakota’s unemployment rate is among the lowest in the country, now is the time to keep it that way and build the next generation of workers.

The T4 Summit is doing just that—opening doors for students to discover new careers and further their education.

There are currently 13,000 job openings across the state, according to Pat Bertagnolli with Job Service North Dakota.

“Sixty percent of all those jobs require a two-year degree or less. And those are the industry professionals that are here today,” said Bertagnolli.

T4 stands for “Tools, Trades, Torque and Tech.”

Middle and high schoolers from neighboring towns took over Stanley to learn firsthand what it’s like to be in North Dakota’s top careers.

From industries like the gas, oil, energy and healthcare—all of it could be found at the summit.

Students explored many different opportunities for after high school.

“When I was in high school, this is not something that happened. I think that any way that we can get kids out there, experiencing—I think helps them to decide what they want to do in the future,” said Sarah Sorenson, counselor for Stanley High School.

Students had the chance to share resources with other rural communities.

“It’s not like a normal career fair. You get to do everything hands-on,” said Tylie Johnson, senior at Stanley High School.

Bertagnolli said one of the top occupations in the state is healthcare.

“Part of the push to industry professionals too is get off the bench, get in the game, offer job shadowing, offer work-based learning,” said Bertagnolli.

And those in the education side say students are responding to that push.

“I feel like there’s been this movement in the last maybe five years, to get them [students] to be more hands-on,” said Sorenson.

Investing in North Dakota’s future, one student at a time.

The North Dakota Petroleum Foundation hosted the summit.

Organizers are working to expand the summit to more towns across the state.