With the philosophy it’s never too early to start exploring a future occupation, the 3E Initiative once again hosted its annual seventh-grade career fair at Riverside Schools in DeGraff.
The fair started in 2016 at the recommendation of the Logan County Collaborative. It offers students a chance to get hands-on exposure to the many job opportunities available to them.
“We want to make sure students are aware there are careers for them in Logan County,” organizer Karen Sorreles, youth development liaison with Midwest Regional Educational Service Center (MRESC), said.
“This gives them an opportunity to interview companies regarding what they have available as well as finding different options for them.”
For instance, they can learn about career paths at Mary Rutan other than being a doctor or a nurse; or the non-line possibilities at Belletech such as human resources or accounting. They can also ask representatives more personal questions, like what they do during a typical workday or why they enjoy their job.
Students from six local schools — Bellefontaine, Benjamin Logan, Calvary Christian, Indian Lake, West Liberty-Salem and Riverside — took turns exploring opportunities with around 60 representatives from 29 different organizations plus about 20 students from Ohio Hi-Point.
Ryan Orseno, who’s a manager with the Ohio Department of Transportation, was honored to be a part of the community and excited for the chance to “mold the future.” He concluded, “We don’t get to interact with this generation very often, so that’s neat.”
“I like the fact we’re introducing them to a career path early,” Kelli Fritz, director of support services at Green Hills Community, said. “I think we need to encourage students to the trades, not just college.”
The event was held in conjunction with the Logan County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the 3E Initiative, visit the logancountyohio.com website.