Last year’s graduating class at Panorama High School saw nearly 15% enter the workforce with full-time employment for a trade. That and other factors are contributing to the decrease in students choosing to attend a four-year college after graduation.

High School Guidance Counselor Chris Webner talks about the dramatic rise. “That’s a huge increase from anything we’ve seen in the past. I think we only had a couple, maybe one or two per year, be able to get into a company that would train them like that. I think that’s directly related to those companies recruiting high school teachers and students to consider them as an option.”

As far as technical schools are concerned, Webner credits company sponsored scholarships as contributors to a rise in technical placement. “Some of the companies now (have) a scholarship as a company. They’ll pay for your tuition to go learn how to be a technician. Some of those types of scholarships are becoming more plentiful.”

Panorama students will have the chance to interact with some of those companies at the Panorama Career Fair Thursday. The Adult Career Fair, open to the general public, is from 4-7pm at Panorama High School.