Peekskill, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham co-hosted a Career & Trade Union Expo at Peekskill High School yesterday that was attended by more than 500 students. 

The goal of the career expo was to introduce and connect high school juniors and seniors with valuable resources and career pathways in various fields, including local and state government, union apprenticeship programs, jobs in the construction and HVAC trades, civil service, cosmetic industry and transportation sector, as well as military, first responder and law enforcement careers. 

“The final years of high school are an important juncture in the lives of young people, a time where they have to start making important decisions about pursuing a career or furthering their education,” said Harckham. “This career and trade expo gave students from Peekskill and the area a valuable opportunity to see what kinds of options are out there other than heading straight to college. I thank all the participants for making this event such a success.” 

Deserving special thanks for helping to put the expo together, Harckham said, were Peekskill Deputy Mayor Patricia Riley and Peekskill resident Michelle Keller, plus Jenna Ferris and Christine Buckman from the Peekskill schools. 

Harckham co-hosted the Career & Trade Union Expo in partnership with the Peekskill City School District and the City of Peekskill. More than 40 vendors, which included four different local trade unions, healthcare organizations, New York State agencies and more—MTA / Metro North, Con Edison, Peekskill Parks and Recreation, Westchester Community College, Universal Technical Institute, New Era Creative Space, CP Unlimited and Westchester School for Medical and dental Assistants, for example. 

Deserving special thanks for helping to put the expo together, Harckham said, were Peekskill Deputy Mayor Patricia Riley and Peekskill resident Michelle Keller, plus Christine Buckman from the Peekskill schools.

Peekskill Schools Superintendent Dr. David Mauricio said, “We are proud to bring together industry professionals and higher education partners to support our students’ futures. Today’s event reflects our district's commitment to preparing our youth for successful careers after high school.” 

Peekskill High School Principal Dr. Jenna Ferris said, “At Peekskill High School, we are preparing every student for life beyond graduation. This event creates opportunities for our students to connect directly with local employers and allows them to explore real-world career pathways. We are excited to be able to offer our students this valuable insight.” 

It has been widely noted that participation in a career fair benefits communities in many ways: businesses and organizations can give back to residents and find potential future employees, while students get to explore career options that they might be interested in, learn about opportunities they may not be aware of, and learn the value of networking. 

Peekskill Deputy Mayor Patricia Riley said, “It’s great that the Peekskill City School District includes the union trades in their college and career fairs, which help prepare our youth for their future employment. By educating and informing students about the other opportunities after high school besides college, students can start planning ahead and see what their interests may be.” 

Michelle Keller, Peekskill resident and labor advocate, said, “Our national economy depends on the growth of our labor market, which we can help support by educating our next generation to master important skills that will bolster our communities in the years to come.”  

Christine Buckman, a Special Education Department Leader and Transition Specialist in the Peekskill City School District, said, “It is especially important that schools not only prepare students to be college and career ready, but also provide opportunities for them to learn about the options available to them once they graduate from high school. We appreciate the support from our community, the participating vendors and all the visiting students here at this job expo and career fair and, I’m sure we will be collaborating on more events like this in the future.” 

Omar Sanchez, apprentice coordinator for Laborers international Union of North America (LiUNA) Local #60, said, “This career fair is an excellent opportunity for young people to learn about meaningful routes to success that include job training, competitive wages, healthcare and retirement benefits. We appreciate being invited to meet all the participating students!”