Seymour High School hosted the Career College Transition Fair on April 26 with all five of the county’s high schools in attendance. Colleges, manufacturers, health care, skilled trades, military, retail, tourism, education, social services, banking and more were represented. “I think it’s introducing students to, first of all, the careers that are available but also just some of the business that they don’t know what they do,” says Jackie Hill, workforce partnership director for JCIDC.
Several of the vendors came up with interactive ways to connect with students, including spinning a wheel or playing Plinko for prizes, conducting drawings for various items and having equipment or products on their tables. The Seymour Police Department brought a Cool Fire Trainer for students to shoot at a target and the U. S. Marines brought a pull-up bar to test students’ upper body strength. Seymour Animal Hospital brought a 1-1/2 year old, 155 pound Newfoundland to draw the students’ attention. Passports were created by SHS JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) students to help the attendees reach out and converse with the vendors. For every question a student asked a vendor they received a stamp. After 10 stamps the students could enter a drawing to win a television, Chromebook, earbuds, water bottles, and gift cards for food and gas. Hill said they interactive activities were a good addition hoping that students walked away from the event having learned something they didn’t know before. If it helped them figure out a college or career path, even better.