Hermiston High students explore tech careers

Collaboration between school district, community college, and Amazon Web Services provides hands-on experience

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A group of 32 students from Hermiston High School in Oregon recently visited the Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) Training Center in Boardman for a three-and-a-half-hour field trip focused on exploring technology career pathways. The students participated in hands-on activities including mock interviews with AWS professionals, electrical systems training, and data center technician work.

Why it matters

The field trip was designed to expose students to the growing opportunities in technical fields within their local community. Several of the AWS team members present were Hermiston High School graduates, demonstrating the potential for students to pursue STEM-based careers close to home.

The details

The collaboration between the Hermiston School District, BMCC, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) provided the students with hands-on experience in three rotating lab sections: mock interviews with AWS professionals, electrical systems training with circuit-building exercises, and data center technician work including server hardware operations.

  • The field trip took place on February 12, 2026.

The players

Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC)

A community college that partnered with the Hermiston School District and Amazon Web Services to provide the technology career exploration experience for Hermiston High School students.

Hermiston School District

The school district that collaborated with BMCC and AWS to send 32 Hermiston High School students on the field trip.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

The technology company that partnered with BMCC and the Hermiston School District to offer the hands-on technology career exploration experience for the high school students.

Benjamin Harvey

The AWS Community Engagement Manager who stated that the immersive experience helps showcase the types of STEM careers available and gives students critical interviewing and communication skills.

Scott Depew

The Hermiston School District Director of Secondary Instruction who said the opportunity gave students real exposure to high-demand careers and hands-on training beyond the classroom.

Tammy Short

The Dean of Career Technical Education at BMCC who said the college is proud to partner with Amazon to connect Hermiston High School students to pathways in their data center technology and industrial systems technology programs.

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What they’re saying

“With the world becoming increasingly digital, STEM-based education is more important than ever. This immersive experience helps showcase the types of STEM careers available, but also gives students interviewing and communication skills that are critical in being successful anywhere.”

— Benjamin Harvey, AWS Community Engagement Manager

“Opportunities like this give Hermiston High School students, many of whom already have the aptitude and passion for this work, real exposure to high-demand careers and hands-on training beyond the classroom.”

— Scott Depew, Hermiston School District Director of Secondary Instruction

“Blue Mountain Community College is proud to partner with Amazon to connect Hermiston High School students to pathways in our data center technology and industrial systems technology programs. Through hands on learning, students will gain real-word skills and a clearer understanding of the opportunities available across our regions growing tech and industrial sectors.”

— Tammy Short, Dean of Career Technical Education, Blue Mountain Community College

What’s next

The Hermiston School District plans to continue collaborating with BMCC and AWS to provide similar technology career exploration opportunities for more high school students in the future.

The takeaway

This partnership between the local school district, community college, and a major tech company demonstrates the value of hands-on, immersive learning experiences that can inspire students to pursue in-demand STEM careers within their own communities.