School career fair needs businesses
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on January 30, 2017 7:11 AM
Help Wanted: Business and industry representatives needed to ensure success of upcoming middle school career fair.
Nearly 3,000 students, potential future employees, will soon be checking out job options that will be available in Wayne County.
"There are a lot of students that have never been able to experience what they're going to see that day and they have never even thought about some of those careers," said Karen Burnette, one of the event organizers.
This is the eighth year for the annual event, sponsored by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Wayne Education Network. Held at the Family YMCA for two days -- Feb. 28 and March 1, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. -- it is for two different groups of students, she said.
On Tuesday, Feb. 28, approximately 1,500 eighth-graders from public, private and home schools, are expected to attend the middle school career fair.
The career fair targets eighth graders on the threshold of choosing what they will study in high school. Sparking an interest toward what career path they'll be on is critical, Mrs. Burnette said.
"They have got to make those decisions early so that they can take advantage of the opportunities that are there in high school," she said.
The event seems to grow each year and has been well-received by the community, she added, but businesses are still needed to make it a success.
"We have had as many as 80 to 90 tables. We hope to have that many or more," she said. "We also have space available outside. That's another option for someone that has something that they can bring as part of the outside event.
"The main thing is trying to get businesses to not just come and have a table and stand there, but to have them bring some hands-on activities that show some of the careers that they have, to be able to interact with the students."
Students are more likely to approach a vendor if there is an appeal, she said.
"If you've got something going on that looks interesting, that they can ask questions about and find out more about the different careers (they'll stop)," she said.
Guidance counselors have been working with students in anticipation of the career fair, helping them better plan around their areas of interest, Mrs. Burnette said.
"They will be prepared to visit those career booths when they arrive at the fair," she said. "Students will also be able to explore businesses or careers that they may not have experienced or seen before.
"We hope to broaden their career aspirations beyond what they may or may not have experienced thus far."
The second day, Wednesday, March 1, is the STEM Fair, which focuses on science, technology, engineering and math. This marks the third year for the event, which is expected to draw another 1,500 students, seventh-graders from public, private and home schools.
"There's going to be six students from each seventh grade in Wayne County that will be chosen to do some competitions," she explained, adding, "Grades 4 through 12 will be participating as exhibitors. There's going to be exhibitions by all the students that are showing their STEM projects."
The focus is helping students understand their own potential in the areas of STEM, building confidence and competence among their peers and to foster a spirit of scientific inquiry, Mrs. Burnette said.
There are three sections to the STEM Fair -- a challenge for students to participate in one of three STEM-related competitions at the event; students of all ages to exhibit STEM-based projects; and business representatives talking with students about some of the challenges they have had to work through in the STEM field.
"We do want to get some more businesses involved," she said of the latter. "Last year for businesses and colleges and universities we had over 35 tables and 20 businesses were represented. We're hoping to have at least that again."
Potential future employers are invited to make it a bit challenging for the students who come through the doors.
"We are encouraging businesses to engage the students by bringing a problem based on some past work issue and its solution to demonstrate to the students," Mrs. Burnette said. "These students are the future workforce and hopefully the STEM Fair will turn a light on in these students' minds toward careers in STEM."
Any business interested in participating in either of the fairs is asked to contact Janet Brock at 919-734-2241 or e-mail janetb@waynecountychamber.com.