LISBON — The Columbiana County Career and Technical Center (CCCTC) will be hosting its fourth annual middle school career exploration event with a fun twist for Halloween on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the CCCTC located at 9364 state Route 45, Lisbon.

The CCCTC is kicking off the introduction of 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 the building along with their parents/guardians and immediate family 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 will also be invited to play career path bingo. Drawings for prizes will start at 7 p.m. and go through the end of the event when the grand prize will be drawn.

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 all-new program, criminal justice, for the first time. In addition, they will get the very first look at the newly renovated lab space for two of the CCCTC’s veteran programs which have been rebranded: the Interactive Technology and Emerging Media program and the Information Technology and Cybersecurity program. 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 12 career path labs available for enrollment. Each lab will have treats for the students, students will complete a fun Halloween career path-related activity, and in each lab, they can receive a sticker for their career path bingo card. Students will also be making items during the visits 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 refreshments will be provided as well as the costume contest and bingo prizes.

Visit https://www.ccctc.k12.oh.us/ for information about the CCCTC.