2025 Career Expo
Relive the excitement! Watch our 2024 Career Expo Highlight Video and read about the event in Connections Magazine.
FORGE Your Path Career Expo: Inspiring the Next Generation of Skilled Trade Professionals
The FORGE Your Path Career Expo is where hands-on learning meets real-world opportunity. Each year, thousands of 8th graders from across our region step out of the classroom and into an interactive environment filled with heavy equipment simulators, skilled trade challenges, and industry experts ready to share their craft.
Over two action-packed days, students discover career possibilities in construction, roofing, concrete, heavy equipment operation, electrical, welding, and more — guided by professionals who do the work every day. From operating a mini-excavator to laying brick or testing their skills in PPE races, the Expo offers unforgettable experiences designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire future career paths.
Whether you’re a student, educator, trade partner, ambassador, volunteer, or sponsor, the Career Expo is your chance to be part of shaping our future workforce.
Event Details
- Dates: Wednesday, October 22nd and Thursday, October 23rd (Set-up on October 21st)
- Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Location: East Mississippi Community College Communiversity | 7003 S Frontage Rd | Columbus, MS 39701
Schools
The FORGE Your Path Career Expo is a unique opportunity for 8th graders to explore the world of construction and skilled trades through interactive, real-world activities. Schools invited to attend will receive registration details by email, with a finalized schedule sent in mid-September.
Trade Partners
Join us as an exhibitor and bring your trade to life through hands-on activities, simulators, skill challenges, and live demonstrations. Your booth will give students a memorable experience while introducing them to rewarding career opportunities in the skilled trades.
CTE Centers
Career & Technical Education Centers play a vital role in the Career Expo by providing hands-on activities that highlight their individual programs. On the day students from your district attend, your CTE team can engage them with interactive demonstrations, skill challenges, and real-world applications of what they could learn in your program. It’s a valuable opportunity to spark interest, answer questions, and connect with the next generation of learners before they enter high school CTE pathways.
Volunteers
From greeting schools and guiding student groups to assisting trade partners and keeping the day running smoothly, volunteers are the heart of the Career Expo. Whether you have a few hours or two full days, your help makes an impact.
EMCC Ambassadors
EMCC Ambassadors will lead groups of students through the event, supervise their activities, and encourage them to participate in the hands-on experiences at each booth. They will help them connect with industry professionals, explore a variety of career paths, and make the most of their time at the Expo. Their support and enthusiasm plays a vital role in creating a positive, impactful experience for every student who attends.
Career Coach Ambassadors
As a Career Coach Ambassador, you’ll lead groups of students through the event, supervise their activities, and encourage them to participate in the hands-on experiences at each booth. You’ll help them engage with industry professionals, explore a variety of career paths, and make meaningful connections between what they learn in school and opportunities in the skilled trades. Your guidance and enthusiasm ensure students get the most out of their Career Expo experience.
Sponsors
Your sponsorship helps cover event costs, expand student participation, and create high-quality, hands-on learning opportunities. With your support, we can continue connecting thousands of students to the careers that build our communities.
Business After Hours at the Career Expo
Join us for a special Business After Hours event at the FORGE Your Path Career Expo — a chance to connect with fellow business and community leaders while getting a behind-the-scenes look at the Expo in action.
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
- Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Location: East Mississippi Community College’s Communiversity – Columbus, MS
Enjoy refreshments, tour the interactive booths, and meet the industry professionals, trade partners, and educators who make this event possible. This is a great opportunity to see firsthand how the Career Expo is shaping our region’s future workforce.