District plans inaugural tech and trades fair for October at Central Campus

District 202 will hold its first Tech and Trades Fair on October 8, 2025. The event is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. in the main gymnasium at Plainfield High School-Central Campus, located at 24120 W. Fort Beggs Drive.

The fair is open to both students and the public. More than 25 vendors are expected, including trade schools, union halls, and various employers. A local union president will speak about the application process and how to start a career in the trades.

The idea for this event was developed by Work-Based Learning Liaisons at each high school: Julie Bortoli from Plainfield High School-Central Campus, Nick Rayola from Plainfield South High School, Rebecca Voss from Plainfield North High School, and Rich Gatz from Plainfield East High School. They worked with the Workforce Center of Will County to organize the fair.

Julie Bortoli said this is the first career fair in District 202 that focuses specifically on technical and skilled trades. "This event marks a significant step forward for our district, as we recognize the growing importance of these careers," she said.

Bortoli noted that jobs in skilled trades are expanding quickly. "These careers offer a secure and specialized future, with top roles for electricians, HVAC technicians, welders, and plumbers leading the way."

Plainfield East High School serves grades 9 through 12 with an enrollment of over two thousand students during the 2019-2020 school year in Will County (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In that year, grade 10 had the highest percentage of students at Plainfield East High School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The school's student body was composed of approximately 42 percent white students, nearly 26 percent Hispanic students, around 16 percent black students, and roughly 11 percent Asian students according to state data (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).