BROOKINGS – Career exploration events give young people broader exposure to the working world that they will one day enter.
With a better understanding of this working world, students can more easily envision how they can be successful and better plan what courses they need to take to gain the skills they will need to achieve that success.
Thanks to a partnership between the Brookings School District and Brookings Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), Brookings High School students will get the opportunity to explore careers and learn more about the educational path they would need to take to be prepared for occupations that interest them.
“This event highlights the importance of our collaboration with BEDC and the business community as we work together to support high school students and their career pathway choices,” Vice Principal Shelly Jensen said. “Students can begin thinking about which options are best for them as they enroll in courses that will prepare them for life after BHS. Additionally, this event presents a wonderful opportunity for professionals to make connections with the future workforce.“
The Career-Palooza will be held virtually on Wednesday, Dec. 16. The three-hour event will feature presentations from approximately 140 local community or business professionals representing close to 80 companies. Students can choose from 16 different career clusters to gain insight into the daily responsibilities, training and educational backgrounds and career journeys of individuals from each cluster.
“BEDC is very excited to collaborate with Brookings High School and showcase the diversity of career choices available in the Brookings region,” BEDC’s director of workforce development, Sarah Hauge, said. “We would like to especially thank the 140 individuals who are volunteering their time to connect with students as they share valuable insight into the variety of career possibilities.”
In addition to experiences like the Career-Palooza positively impacting the lives of students involved, these events help fill the talent pipeline for the local businesses that drive the Brookings area economy. This event is just one of BEDC’s many workforce development programs designed to create awareness of career opportunities.
The organization encourages local businesses to become a VIP in building Brookings’ future workforce by: increasing “visibility” to potential workforce; providing “information” to youth about career opportunities; and creating a “pipeline” where education aligns with industry. BEDC has also developed an online Career Connections guidebook located at www.liveinbrookings.com/employer-directory. To find out more about the Career-Palooza or any of BEDC’s workforce development programs, contact Hauge at 697-8103 or by email to Sarah@Brookingsedc.com.
