FVCC Hosts Over 200 Attendees for Successful “Night of the Trades”and “Night at the Broussard” Events

Kalispell, Mont. — Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) welcomed
over 200 community members, students and families to campus on Thursday, October 2 for two
simultaneous events showcasing career pathways in the trades and health care: Night of the
Trades and Night at the Broussard.
At Night of the Trades, more than 130 attendees explored hands-on sessions in high-demand
fields such as welding, plumbing, construction, HVAC and CNC machining. Attendees
participated in interactive sessions with FVCC instructors in small groups, connected with local
employers who are actively hiring and learned about financial aid and advising options. High
school students from across the region including Kalispell, Noxon, Columbia Falls, Bigfork,
Eureka, Libby, Polson, Whitefish, Evergreen, Kila, Ronan and Pablo attended, along with adult
learners and job seekers.
“It is a fantastic opportunity to get to know the trades, explore the FVCC campus and access the
many resources available right here in the community,” said Lisa Blank, FVCC Executive
Director of Workforce Development. “Most importantly, Night of the Trades opens the door to the
many possibilities in our own backyards and helps attendees identify the next steps to realize
their future. We’re grateful to everyone who attended and made the event such a meaningful
experience for our community.”
Meanwhile, Night at the Broussard, held at the Rebecca Chaney Broussard Center for Nursing
& Health Science, welcomed over 100 guests for a real-life health care simulation experience.
Participants toured state-of-the-art labs and learned about careers in nursing, radiologic
technology, medical assisting, paramedicine and more.
“Night at the Broussard was an exciting way for people to explore what working in health care
looks like,” said Janice Heil, FVCC Health Science Department Chair and event organizer. “The
simulation allowed everyone to see the teamwork and critical thinking that health professionals
use every day. We had wonderful conversations with future students about the next steps in
their journey.”

Attendees came from across the Flathead Valley and beyond. Both events were free and open
to the public, and FVCC is already looking ahead to future opportunities to connect the
community with education and career pathways.
For more information about FVCC programs or upcoming events, visit fvcc.edu.