Last Updated on May 19, 2026 by Jordan Monaco
For more than 400 sixth-grade students, Wednesday, May 6, was not just a field trip. It was a chance to step onto a college campus, try something new, and begin imagining what their futures could look like.
Blue Mountain Community College welcomed students from 12 middle schools across the region to its Pendleton campus for 6th Grade Day, a hands-on career and college exploration event designed to introduce students to the many pathways available through education, training, and real-world experience.
Throughout the day, students rotated through interactive sessions in Medical Assisting, Nursing, Diesel, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Agriculture, Student Life, EMT/Fire, Library Services, DCT, STEM, Business, and Education. In each session, students had the opportunity to do more than listen. They explored, asked questions, tested skills, and experienced small pieces of careers they may one day choose to pursue.
The event brought together students from Cove, Grant Union, Ione, Milton-Freewater, North Powder, Pendleton, Pilot Rock, Seneca, Ukiah, Umatilla, Union, and Imbler. The students were joined by 46 middle school teachers, counselors, and school staff members.
“Career and technical education is about helping students connect what they are learning to where they want to go,” said Tammy Short, Dean of Career and Technical Education at BMCC. “Events like 6th Grade Day give students an early look at the many pathways available to them, from health care and public safety to agriculture, diesel technology, business, education, and emerging fields like UAS. When students can see, touch, and experience those opportunities for themselves, the future starts to feel more real and more within reach.”
The day was also supported by industry and community partners who helped bring career exploration to life. Representatives from Amazon, Pendleton UAS Range, Hawman Farms, Nirschl Construction, and UMHS participated in activities with students. BMCC Fire and EMS students also helped lead demonstrations featuring the college’s fire engine and ambulance.
For BMCC, the purpose of 6th Grade Day is rooted in the belief that students should not have to wait until the end of high school to begin discovering what is possible. By introducing students to different fields and industries early, the college hopes to help them better understand their interests, identify their strengths, and make more informed decisions about education and careers after high school.
“Sixth grade is such an important age because students are starting to notice what excites them, what challenges them, and what makes them curious,” said Samantha Mahaffy-Nirschl, CTE Alignment Specialist at BMCC. “This event was designed to give them meaningful hands-on moments, not just information. Our hope is that each student left campus with at least one experience that made them think, ‘I could see myself doing that someday.’”
As students moved from session to session, the day offered more than a glimpse of college life. It offered a reminder that career exploration can begin with curiosity, that confidence can grow from trying something new, and that a student’s future does not have to feel like a guess.
6th Grade Day is part of BMCC’s ongoing commitment to increasing access, strengthening regional partnerships, and helping students across Eastern Oregon discover pathways that align with their interests, strengths, and goals.