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Businesses encouraged to join in on career expo for high school students [UPDATED]
Published 10:23am Monday, November 19, 2012 Updated 12:26pm Monday, November 19, 2012The sixth annual Fergus Falls College and Career Expo is planned Thursday, Dec. 6, at Kennedy Secondary School. The event will highlight the skills and education students need to attain high-paying, in-demand jobs in West Central Minnesota.
High school students from Fergus Falls as well as Ashby, Henning, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Parkers
Prairie, Pelican Rapids, Perham, Rothsay, Underwood and others will participate in small group presentations by professionals “on the job” as well have the opportunity to visit business and college displays set up trade show style.
Free vendor booth space is available for businesses and colleges who are looking to reach young people, before their education and career decisions have been made.
Space is available in the Kennedy Secondary School gold gymnasium for the displays and students are encouraged to visit each display with the lure of winning prizes from completed a “Bingo Card” with each display representing a “square.” Vendors should actively engage the students during their sessions which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a break for lunch, which is included for vendors at no additional charge.
Contact Rick Schara at 739-7560 at the WorkForce Center by Nov. 21 to reserve your space at the expo.
The afternoon session will feature a keynote presentation by Derek Krueger, Uber Chief of Geek Squad Stores and member of Geek Squad Emerging Business Build Team for Best Buy.
In addition, students will hear first-hand from experts what it takes to get a job in fields such as Engineering, Physical Therapy, Law Enforcement, Bio Sciences and Natural Resources.
The guest speakers help high school students understand what opportunities are available, the salaries these careers provide and the educational and experience required to achieve them.
“Our goal is to show students that there are many interesting career choices right here in their own backyard,” said Lisa Workman, Executive Director of the Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. “Many industries will or are facing workforce shortages, especially with many baby-boomers retiring in the upcoming years,” she continued. “We hope to excite kids about jobs right here at home. Even if they go away to college, we want them to know that they’re always welcome back home in the Fergus Falls area.”
Thanks to a grant from West Central Initiative, this year’s event will include more than 350 students from area high schools. The Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce collaborated with the Fergus Falls Economic Improvement Commission, Independent School District 544, Fergus Falls Community Education, Rural MN CEP and the Minnesota WorkForce Center to host the 2012 College and Career Expo.
