Mya Slusser went into the GLOW with Your Hands event with the mindset that she was going to try as much as she could. With over 70 businesses from manufacturing, agriculture, food production, and the skilled trades represented at the event, the nearly 1,000 students from 30 local schools had endless opportunities for hands-on career exploration.

            The 6^th annual event, which was held on September 24 at the Genesee County Fairgrounds in Batavia, had numerous organizers and sponsors, including platinum level sponsors LandPro Equipment, National Grid, and Davis-Fetch. Mya was one of about 30 Warsaw freshmen that chose to attend the event with Tim Suleski, high school technology teacher, Emily Statler, high school counselor, and Assistant Principal Jay Clifford.

            “I was interested because I like technology class,” said Mya. “It surprised me that all of the students who went showed interest the entire day. Once we got there, everyone realized how interesting it was.”  

            Mya didn’t mind getting her hands dirty. At one station, she mixed mortar before slathering it between two bricks. Her favorite activity was trying to pick up a basketball while operating the shovel of an excavator.

            “I liked that each station was different. All the presenters were well-experienced and were great at explaining what their job consisted of,” she said.

            Maddy Schurr’s mentality going into the event was if it looks fun, she’s going to try it. That might be why she was one of the first volunteers to compete in wheelbarrow races at the station for the Laborer’s Union Local 435. Participants had to load a cinderblock into their wheelbarrow before racing through a course.

“I wasn’t expecting anything going into the event but, wow, there was a lot to offer,” said Maddy.   

For Mya, it was important to attend the GLOW event because it provided hands-on learning opportunities that students might not get at home or in school.

            “I thought it was great to get all of these kids together,” she said. “It’s important that we’re exposed to new career options.”