Each fall, energy builds at the LIFT Area Career Center as students dive into hands-on learning, planning career exploration events, industry visits, business expos, and service projects that connect their classroom work to the real world.
In October, students and staff put their creativity to work transforming part of the building into one of Mattoon’s most anticipated Halloween attractions, the annual LIFT Tower of Terror Haunted House. Coordinated by Mr. Dan Compton and a dedicated team of LIFT students and staff, the project has become a favorite Mattoon Trunk or Treat tradition, drawing families from across the region.
More than a Halloween event, the Haunted House reflects what happens at LIFT every day. Students from over 20 school districts come together to collaborate, create, and lead. Whether designing, building, organizing, or managing logistics, students from every career pathway have a chance to contribute in their own way. The project brings together future engineers, culinary artists, childcare providers, technicians, and entrepreneurs, all learning to apply their skills in meaningful, community-centered ways.
Events like the Haunted House and the LIFT Day of Service highlight what makes LIFT unique: students learning through service, innovation, and teamwork. Each experience strengthens connections between education and the workforce while giving students a sense of pride in their school and community.
“The Haunted House and The LIFT Day of Service are perfect examples of how our students learn by doing,” said Chris Brown, LIFT’s Lead Facilitator. “It’s about leadership, creativity, and the sense of pride that comes from building something together that benefits the communities.”
At LIFT, every pathway, from Childcare and IT to HVAC, Robotics, and Culinary Arts, is built on a shared foundation: helping students become leaders and innovators ready to shape the future.
