Hundreds of Nacogdoches County students, including Nacogdoches High School students and eighth-graders from McMichael Middle School, immersed themselves Wednesday and Thursday in a career exploration event at Nacogdoches County Expo and Civic Center that allowed the students to complete actual projects.
Gateway to Your Future is an initiative launched last year by Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee. BridgeYear, touted as a way to conduct a “career test drive,” was once more on hand this week and staffed the work stations along with representatives from Nacogdoches-area employers. But the number of Nacogdoches-area employers participating increased, too.
Presenting Sponsors this year were Bright Foundation, Stephen F. Austin State University’s Center for Applied Research and Rural Innovation and Better Together. Master Sponsors were Nacogdoches ISD, McWilliams and Son, Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital, Texas Department of Transportation, Lufkin Gears, Oncor, NIBCO, Workforce Solutions, Stiles Electric, Eaton, M&S/Stripling’s Pharmacy and NEDCO. Texas Masonry Council and SFA Forestry were Journeyman Sponsors.
The vocations – automotive technician, electrician, network technician, pharmacy tech, phlebotomist, plumber, construction, fire and EMTs, and technology-related jobs, among others – are career areas that are running critically short of manpower and will need an infusion of help in the coming years, specifically in East Texas.
The jobs were pitched to the McMichael eighth-graders and NHS students as work they could begin following high school graduation, either as a career choice or as a way to help pay for college.
But instead of sitting and listening to descriptions from employers, the students got to work on projects, guided by industry experts.
“It’s critical that this is actually a hands-on event so students can actually spend time doing something,” said Erin Windham, chair of the chamber’s education committee. Windham is also Community Engagement Liaison for Nacogdoches ISD and leads the district’s education foundation. “For example, at the display for the electrician, students actually wired the light bulb and wired the switch to see if it works.
“There were a lot of moving parts here, and we’re all grateful for the support and for our donors who have made this a priority.”