In Malheur County, nearly one in four children lives below the federal poverty line. Poverty could result in reduced access to stable housing, healthcare and educational support and in turn trap families in cycles of hardship, so that children find it hard to thrive in school and land in steady employment.
By matching individual aptitudes with regional industry needs, Destination Dream Job Career Exploration Days built a foundation for a stronger local workforce and gave young people reason and motivation to invest in their hometowns.
A three-day program launched in 2025 is helping incoming high school freshmen understand their skill set and envision themselves in different careers.
Destination Dream Job Career Exploration Days brought together 37 ninth graders from six schools across the county: Ontario, Nyssa, Vale and Adrian middle schools, along with Harper and Annex charter schools.
The program is a partnership between Oregon State University Extension Service, the Frontier STEM Hub, local career and technical education programs and Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC).
Held on the TVCC campus, the event gave students a first look at a college setting. Each participant completed the YouScience Aptitude and Career Discovery assessment, which uses interactive tasks to identify strengths and interests. Students then received personalized matches to career paths tied to local workforce needs, including healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, computer science, law enforcement, entrepreneurship and creative arts.
To make the event as accessible as possible, free transportation and lunch were provided, and bilingual near-peer mentors from Frontier STEM Hub and OSU Extension guided students through each day. At panels, students heard directly from local professionals who shared their experiences working in the community and offered guidance on navigating early-career pathways.
Post-event survey data suggested the experience shifted how students think about what comes next. Every participant said the program influenced the high school classes they plan to take. Three in four reported finding career options they had not considered before, and 60% said they came away with a clearer understanding of their own skills.
Public value
Malheur County faces deep economic pressure. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county’s 2025 median household income is around $49,902, well below the state average, and more than half of households fall into a category of financial hardship that puts basic living costs out of reach. Connecting youths to local career pathways early is one strategy for breaking that cycle.
By matching individual aptitudes with regional industry needs, Destination Dream Job Career Exploration Days built a foundation for a stronger local workforce and gave young people reason and motivation to invest in their hometowns. The cross-sector partnership behind the event also offered a replicable model for rural communities working to keep talent close and expand opportunity for the next generation.