For the third year, Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) will host the T4 Summit - Tools, Trades, Torque Tech event offered through North Dakota Energy Education and North Central Education Cooperative (NCEC), October 28 and 29, 2026. Organizing sponsors of T4 include ND Energy Education, ND Petroleum Council, and the Lignite Energy Council. T4 introduces high school and middle school students to workforce skills. It is an opportunity to understand the needs, training, and networking opportunities within the hands-on skills industry.

Dakota College at Bottineau serves rural North Dakota with innovative programs designed to meet workforce needs. Participating students will be hosted at DCB and Bottineau High School and will receive hands-on learning sessions from local and regional industry leaders in energy, manufacturing, agriculture, aviation, health care, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, to name a few. DCB instructors also provide a look into programs offered that meet the high-demand jobs. These immersive demonstrations provide hands-on learning for students, allowing them to apply real-world skills.

According to Amy Artz, NCEC Student Activities Coordinator, “T4 is all about getting kids out of the classroom and giving them a chance to see, touch, and try careers they might never have considered. With nearly 800 students participating over two days, we're helping them discover opportunities right here in North Dakota. You never know what experience might spark an interest or help a student see their future a little differently.”

Students in grades 9-12 will be on the DCB campus on October 28, while students in grades 6-8 will participate on Thursday, October 29. NCEC serves students from the following schools who will attend: Bottineau, Drake/Anamoose, Dunseith, Dunseith Day, Harvey, Little Flower (Rugby), MLS, Newburg, Ojibwa, Rolette, Rugby, St. Ann’s (Belcourt), St. John, TGU (Towner and Granville), Turtle Mountain (Belcourt), and Westhope. Last year, this event hosted 800 students over two days, with an anticipated attendance of around 700-800 this year.