Middle Schoolers Explore Career Opportunities at Chatham Expo

Middle school students from six school districts gathered at the Olde Dominion Agriculture Complex in Chatham on March 6-7, 2024, for the 12th annual Career ChoICE Youth Expo. With over 3,000 participants, the event aimed to introduce young learners to diverse career opportunities in Southside Virginia. The unique capitalization of “ICE” in ChoICE stands for “imagine, connect, and explore,” which encapsulates the expo’s purpose.

Jessie Vernon, director of employer engagement and experiential learning at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, emphasized the importance of exposure for middle school students. “For the middle school students, the idea is this is really about exposure to just what’s available here in the region,” Vernon stated. She has been instrumental in organizing the event since its inception, highlighting the expo as a vital resource for students contemplating their future career paths.

On the first day, students eagerly visited various employer booths, engaging in conversations and asking questions. The Danville Police Department showcased a Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicle, sparking significant interest among attendees. Matt Bell, a spokesperson for the department, noted an increasing curiosity about law enforcement among students. “They ask good questions about what officers do, daily life, and how an arrest works,” Bell explained, adding that the event helps create a positive impression of potential career paths.

Vernon pointed out that middle school students bring a unique energy to the expo, eager to explore a wide range of opportunities. In contrast, high school students, scheduled for the following day, tend to focus more narrowly on specific areas of interest as they approach graduation. “They’ll spend a little more time with the stations they stop at, but they are going to visit less areas,” she observed.

The police department has participated in the expo since its beginning as a way to recruit future officers and connect with the community. Bell noted the varying dynamics between middle and high school attendees. “It’s a little bit different tempo,” he stated, echoing Vernon’s insights.

At the Sovah Health-Danville booth, representatives provided hands-on demonstrations, teaching students how to perform CPR. Additionally, medical residents, who have completed eight years of education and are currently in residency, were present to answer questions about their journey. “This is just a career expo to help our youth prepare for their future,” said Tyrell Payne, medical student coordinator at Sovah Health-Danville. “They can start looking at their education and different things on what they want to do when they grow up.”

The event featured new employers such as the Virginia State Police and Gray’s Lambscaping, a company that utilizes sheep for landscaping at solar farms. Vernon expressed her commitment to showcasing potential career options in the region, stating, “We want to keep young talent here.”

The Career ChoICE Youth Expo serves as an essential platform for students to discover their future career paths, allowing them to imagine the possibilities that lie ahead. As the event continues to grow, it emphasizes the importance of community engagement and the role of education in shaping the workforce of tomorrow.