May 15, 2013 at 4:50 p.m.
Middle schoolers test-drive possible careers during Nicolet expo
Middle schoolers test-drive possible careers during Nicolet expo
"The whole goal is to expose them to the wide variety of career options they have," said Nicolet College Career Coach Erika Warning.
Students from 14 schools in Forest, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas counties attended the expo, held throughout the day at the Rhinelander Ice Arena.
Nicolet targeted the career expo at seventh graders to give the younger demographic a chance to think about careers before they enter high school.
"We want to have them start thinking about careers now," said Warning. "Most students make the decision if they are going to go to college or not by the end of middle school, so we want to have them start thinking about where their interests are and what they might want to do after high school."
Participating businesses were split up and grouped using the 16 Career Clusters recognized by The National Career Clusters Framework. Each cluster represents a specific collection of occupations or industries, based on the skills required for each career. Clusters include groupings such as agriculture, food and natural resources; government and public administration; health sciences; law, public safety, corrections and security; and many more.
"Each employer came with a brief activity for the students to do to get hands-on exposure of the careers," said Warning.
Students could take a turn in the Ponsse logging simulation machine, learn how to age a fish from Department of Natural Resources Fish Management, participate in a dance fitness class with Angie Schaefer Fitness, get a manicure from Nicolet College Cosmetology, or tune a bike and wax skis at Mel's Trading Post.
The students could also make a decorative dessert with help from Holiday Acres, debate a variety of current political issues with former State Senator and State Assembly member Jim Holperin, explore a career in radio with WXPR, and learn about financial responsibility from CoVantage Credit Union and Ripco Credit Union.
Exhibitor booths filled the Rhinelander Ice Arena and spilled outside, where the Dream Flight USA "Spirit of Education" bus offered tours, 95.5 WIFC was broadcasting live, Superior Diesel set up a John Deere Engine, WJFW gave students a chance to be on camera, and the Rhinelander Fire Department let the students be the heroes and perform CPR and the Heimlich maneuver on dummies, as well as use fire extinguishers to put out an actual fire.
Included in the 37 exhibitors who participated in the expo, Nicolet College also had several representatives on hand to answer any questions students had about college in general.
Jim Oxley may be reached at [email protected].
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