To mark Career Awareness Month, high school and community college students across Louisiana were able to engage in workforce presentations and virtual career expos through a partnership between Louisiana Tech University’s Science and Technology Education Center’s (SciTEC), Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC), and Louisiana Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEARUP).
The presentations were prepared and presented to students at LDCC and GEARUP schools across the state through virtual career expos in September, and this partnership granted students the opportunity to explore postsecondary schooling and career paths by introducing them to various corporate, industry, and education leaders in the region.
Seventeen employers that connected with 2,169 middle and high school students and 433 LDCC students from school districts that included Monroe City Schools, Catahoula Parish, Morehouse Parish, Madison Parish, Lincoln Parish, and Sabine Parish.
“In the College of Education, we’re thankful for LDCC’s Julie Salter and her work to spearhead this initiative,” said Dr. Lindsey Vincent, Associate Dean for Research, Outreach, and Innovation. “These expos allowed students in GEAR UP districts and partner parishes the opportunity to learn about the possibilities their future holds.”
Salter, who serves as Career and Placement Specialist at LDCC, said she hopes to find other creative engagement opportunities like job shadowing to reach and engage students.
“Just seeing everybody work together and create these partnerships and the high school students asking questions about these careers – all of that is so fulfilling,” Salter said.
The partnership, which is conducted through Louisiana Tech’s College of Education, continues to prepare middle and high school students for postsecondary education and careers. The STEM Collective for Innovative Stakeholders (SCILS) has also joined the effort to advance opportunities for education and training in northwest Louisiana.
This story by Communication student Madison Remrey.