Article Contributed on: 12/1/2008 8:51:24 AM
On Nov. 21, Summit Ridge Middle School hosted their annual Career Fair for 8th graders. It was an all day event with well over fifty community volunteers encompassing a wide variety of careers. Students learned about the fields of health care, human services, business, industrial engineering/technology and arts/communication throughout the day.
Morning sessions featured teachers and enthusiastic students from Warren Tech describing programs offered at their school and at their new North Campus, opening in the fall of 2009. Dakota Ridge counselors also brought along students to share tips on how to be successful in high school. The Career Expo took place in the gym, featuring tables of over thirty-five community members ready to share information about their own careers.
Two local authors,
JC Jackman and
Katrina Cavaliere (also a teacher at Summit Ridge), talked about their new books and what it takes to become a published author. Deputies
Michelle Lucero and
Greg Everhart allowed students to try on bullet-resistant body armor and tactile vests.
Alexander Person III and
Anthony Mitchell from Davis Partnership Architects had interested students asking about what high school and college courses they need to take to become architects themselves. And all students were able to take a short online quiz to determine their "personality type."
Students listened attentively to motivational speaker
Lance Carl from College in Colorado speak about his own life adversities and how he was able to successfully overcome them. Students were told how they can earn "free" money for college through College in Colorado, a free service to anyone in Colorado (www.collegeincolorado.org).
Afternoon sessions found students learning how to fill out a job application and experience what it's like to be in a job interview. Careers in art, multiple intelligences and even what it's like to be a race car driver, hosted by teacher
Linda Duncan, were some of the topics explored.
"I was really impressed with how engaged the students were in learning about various careers they may never had considered before," said
Betty Miller, SRMS counselor and organizer of the event. "The questions they asked of our presenters made us feel that we have many future veterinarians, chefs, authors, firefighters and electrical engineers on our hands."
"We want to thank our community and all of our volunteers who made our annual Career Fair so successful."