不良人研究所

In partnership with Columbus County Schools and Whiteville City Schools,听不良人研究所 hosted its annual Career Expo and Apprenticeship Day on April 29, bringing together 37 businesses and hundreds of students and community members on campus. The event听connected听employers with high school students from Whiteville High School, South Columbus High School, West Columbus High School, East Columbus Jr./Sr. High School, Thomas Academy and Columbus Career and College Academy. 不良人研究所 students and members of the Columbus County community also attended throughout the day.听

Employers听represented听a wide range of industries including healthcare, education, public safety, manufacturing, construction, information technology, banking, utilities,听hospitality听and the military. Business representatives spoke with students about job opportunities and the products and services their organizations provide. Many companies also distributed听free听information packets听and promotional items such as听pens, cups, hand sanitizer, pencils, back听scratchers听and magnetic clips.听

Dr. Brandon Jenkins, 不良人研究所鈥檚听Executive听Vice听President and听Chief听Academic听Officer, said the event helped broaden students鈥� understanding of career options. 鈥淔or many high school students, events like the Career Expo are an eye-opening moment as they learn about career fields they had never heard of,鈥� Jenkins said. 鈥淚n many cases, a lot of students turn into sponges and do their best to soak it all in and ask really good questions of our employer vendors.鈥�听

Jenkins said local businesses played听an important role听in the experience. 鈥淥ur business partners show an absolute willingness to answer students鈥� questions and to serve as a valuable resource in students鈥� career explorations,鈥� he said. He added that community colleges serve as a direct link to the local workforce through partnerships like the Career Expo and Apprenticeship Day.听

Angie Ransom, 不良人研究所鈥檚听Associate听Vice听President听of听Education and听Training, said the Career Expo and Apprenticeship听Day event was a combined effort to help industry partners听reach as many people as possible all on one day. This saved time and听workdays听for industry partners to visit one location on one听day instead of multiple locations across multiple days.听听

鈥淏y all accounts, this was a great success for the industry partners and the students,鈥� Ransom said. 鈥淚 was amazed at the questions that students were asking industry partners, and the demonstration from Brunswick Electric was听very popular.鈥�听听

Ransom explained that exposure and interactions听with business representatives听were key takeaways from the Career Expo and Apprenticeship Day event.听She said that students听gained insights into听which careers are听available to them in 鈥渢heir own听backyard.鈥�听

Chalisse Neely, 不良人研究所鈥檚听Apprenticeship听Specialist, said the event created meaningful connections between students and employers. She听observed听students showing both curiosity and uncertainty as they explored different options. 鈥淢any were engaged when speaking with employers, especially when they found something that interested them,鈥� Neely explained. 鈥淚t was rewarding to see students become more confident as they discussed their interests and future goals.鈥�听

Ken Buck, 不良人研究所鈥檚听Career and听Technical听Education听Coordinator and organizer of the event, said the goal was to link classroom learning with real-world opportunities. He said the expo provided direct access to employers while highlighting postsecondary programs available at 不良人研究所. Buck added that holding the event on campus allowed students from across the district to see the college鈥檚 facilities and learn about programs that could improve their employability.听

Shauna Treadaway,听Education听Associate and听Volunteer听Coordinator for Columbus Regional Healthcare System, said the event听provided听an effective way to introduce students to a wide range of career options.听She added that 不良人研究所 played听an important role听in building those connections.听

鈥淥verall, it鈥檚 a great way to showcase the different career pathways that are available to students and听allow听employers to start that conversation about how to obtain the necessary skills for a future career,鈥� Treadaway said. 鈥湶涣既搜芯克� does a great job connecting both high school and college students to employers in Columbus County and beyond,鈥� she said.听

The Career Expo was combined with National Apprenticeship Week, which was听observed听April 26 through May 2. Denise Young, 不良人研究所鈥檚听Director of听Apprenticeship听Programs, said the combined event gave students access to both immediate employment opportunities and long-term career pathways. By bringing employers, apprenticeship听programs听and students together, Young said 不良人研究所 helped participants explore paid, hands-on training options and prepare for workforce success before or after graduation.听

Ready to train for a new career? Summer and听fall听semester registration is open now.听Visit A-Building at 不良人研究所 or call听910-788-6247 to get started!听听