Area high school students have access to many pathways following graduation. Nearly 100 of them were available for exploration during Tuesday’s (March 15) “Power Up Your Future” Career & College Night event held at the University of South Carolina Aiken’s Convocation Center.
The inaugural event, hosted by Aiken Works, Aiken County Public Schools, the University of South Carolina Aiken, Lower Savannah Council of Governments, SC Works, American Job Center, South Carolina Department of Commerce, and the Economic Development Partnership, saw more than 460 high school students from Aiken, Barnwell, and Edgefield counties walk through the Convocation Center to meet a wide variety of representatives from 70 businesses and organizations including local and state governments and Military recruiters, and 25 colleges, universities, and specialty schools.
Students were able to speak with potential employers and higher education representatives, try hands-on activities, attend workshops offered by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), receive assistance with filling out financial aid forms, and take a tour of the Be Pro Be Proud trailer, a custom-made, military-grade, double-expandable semi-trailer loaded with hands-on simulators of a variety of skilled trades including welding, truck driving, heavy equipment operation, diesel technician, and electrical lineman.
All students who attended were entered in drawings to win door prizes, and juniors and seniors were eligible to win up to $3,750 in scholarships during the event.
Deonte Edwards, a senior at Ridge Spring-Monetta High School, said he was excited to attend an event that offered so many options, especially knowing how many colleges were on site.
“This is all interesting,” Deonte said. “It’s a good thing for us to experience an event like this and talk to different people. I hope I win a scholarship.”
-more-
Ansley Green, a junior at South Aiken High School who is taking Criminal Justice classes at the Aiken Career and Technology Center, enjoyed being able to speak with Aiken County emergency dispatchers, police officers, and EMS personnel.
Ansley’s mother, Michelle Green, said she was also impressed with the event.
“Growing up, the expectation in my house was you graduate high school and go on to college, so I do like that this event is both career and college oriented,” stated Green. “Kids need to know there are options other than college.”
Aiken Works Lead Larry Millstead was thrilled with the community collaboration that allowed the inaugural event to be such a great success.
“There are multiple pathways for students, but as a community this allows us to provide information to help both students and parents make informed decisions,” commented Millstead. “Events like this help develop community resources and expand the workforce. Today’s students are our workforce of tomorrow, and I’m glad to see so many who took advantage of the opportunity to learn about different career pathways, see career and technology programs, and talk to representatives to learn what it takes to get there.”
Culinary students from Aiken, Midland Valley, North Augusta, Silver Bluff, and South Aiken high schools also catered the vendor hospitality room.
Millstead said he is already looking forward to next year’s event. He encourages local and state-wide businesses and college representatives who were unable to attend the 2022 event to contact him. He may be reached by email at LMillstead@acpsd.net or telephone at (803) 646-8985.
###
LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2022 PR CAREER & COLLEGE NIGHT