Area high school sophomores were shown a myriad of paths towards futures careers and it all began at the Decatur County Fairgrounds.
Thursday, EcO15, the workforce development and educational arm of the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) created with the help of a Decatur County Community Foundation grant, hosted the first career expo for the students. Lisa Deck of the EDC, who was the main organizer of the event, said the focus was on area 10th graders with the goal of getting them thinking about structuring their future classes to work towards careers.
“We’re building initiatives to focus on the role that math and science plays in building career paths,” Deck said.
Of the 21 businesses, a number of them were from the manufacturing sector, including GECOM, Honda, Cummins and M&S; Precision. Deck said the corporations and companies were there to help direct students in how to achieve jobs at those facilities instead of merely getting a degree and thinking they’ll land an easy factory job. Instead, she wanted them to think about going to college and studying certain skills so the children of the city and county return home instead of venturing elsewhere for work.
“We want them to understand they can be building careers here at home,” Deck said.
Students took questionnaires to 21 different booths and asked questions about various careers. They filled out their sheets and turned them end. Several were drawn from each school at the end of the sessions for door prizes, which included iPods, scientific calculators and one laptop to a student at each school as well as a grand prize MP3 player compliments of ETC.
The students also split into breakout sessions for more specific discussions on different careers and study paths. The health care session, hosted by Decatur County Memorial Hospital, had the most interest from students, Deck said.
Teachers, students and participants alike offered positive sentiments about the Career Expo. Vicki Kellerman, director of EDC, said the expo was a hit and proved an opportunity for the county’s workforce of the future meet the industries of the area’s future halfway. EcO15, she said, has become more than just a guide to set the county’s youth on the right path but also as a marketing tool for attracting a diverse array of prospective manufacturing businesses.
“I’m using it as one of our marketing tools so they know we’re building a strong, educated workforce,” Kellerman said.
She added Deck has been instrumental in the expo as well as developing EcO15 and contributes all of its success with her.
“I’m really proud of Lisa,” Kellerman said. “I think she has become a valuable part of the organization.”
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photo by Adam Huening
Sophomores Exposed to Career Possibilities
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