By Kim McDarison
Some 80 students, many accompanied by their parents, attended Whitewater High School’s Career Fair Wednesday. The event, which was held in the school’s library, featured 12 area companies and organizations, all of which provided representatives to talk with students about paid and volunteer job and career skills opportunities available at their businesses and institutions or within their industries.
Tables with literature, giveaways and treats were manned by local businesses including Generac, Provisur Technologies, Fairhaven Senior Services, Culver’s, Golder Hospitality, First Citizens State Bank and Southern Lakes Plumbing and Heating. Nonprofit organization, Makerspace, was also on hand, as well as several departments affiliated with the City of Whitewater, including the police department, fire department, and parks and recreation department. The director of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s buildings and grounds department was also available to talk about job opportunities on campus. In addition, the two-hour evening event featured free food and door prizes provided by Culver’s, Toppers Pizza, Cozumel and Kwik Trip.
Whitewater Unified School District Family/Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator Molly Fuller said that while Wednesday’s event was “newly designed,” she believed the career fair would become an annual event.
A goal of the event was to inform Whitewater High School students about opportunities available to them in and around the community and to help them identify their own potential and strive to reach it, Fuller said.
The event will be followed by a job fair, scheduled to take place in March.
“We had an amazing turnout for the WHS (Whitewater High School) Career Fair that far surpassed our expectations,” Fuller said. “The excitement from the students, families and companies was contagious and exhibited the desire to help students find pathways that excite them,” she added.
Another component of the career fair was introducing students to the district’s Youth Apprenticeship program, which, Fuller said, was begun in the district last year.
“Although the initial point of the career fair was to inform students about companies that offer youth apprenticeships, we opened it up to any company … We want to make sure that through these events, all career opportunities are shared with our students so they can find the right fit for them,” Fuller noted.
Having a broad array of companies and opportunities for students to explored paid off, Fuller said.
“The excitement from the students, families and companies was phenomenal. It was wonderful to see students interacting with companies, asking them questions and getting excited about their future. Students shared that they were surprised by the many opportunities available to them in our community,” Fuller continued.
Presenters, too, shared positive feedback about their interactions with students, she said, much of which identified common themes such as the level of maturity, dedication and self-advocacy students demonstrated in their conversations with presenters.
Looking at the jobs climate as it pertains to student employment, Fuller said: “I think that some students are looking for employment, but might not know what they want to do or where to look. Having events such as the career fair helps students see all the different opportunities and shows that, as a district, we will help them every step of the way. What the students shared as most helpful was making personal connections with employers and hearing that future employers will work with their schedules to make sure it is mutually beneficial.”
Students working with the district’s Youth Apprenticeship program are required to complete 450 hours a year and students are assisted by the district with help developing a manageable schedule that will lead to a successful program outcome. Students completing the program take job-related classes and earn a full credit each semester while they participate, Fuller explained.
Fuller pointed to ongoing aids designed to prepare students for future careers while in school and after graduation. She cited helping students reach their full potential as a program and personal goal.
Said Fuller: “Students who attended the career fair and found a career path they are interested in will be working with staff members to do mock interviews, craft resumes, and learn positive work etiquette. Students will then be able to interview with companies during our job fair. If both the students and company feel it is a good fit, students can be hired at that point. We feel having these opportunities will not only make our students feel prepared, but confident to enter the work world.”
The Whitewater High School Job Fair is planned for March 16.
Click on the image above to view a full album of photos from Wednesday’s Whitewater High School Career Fair. Kim McDarison photos.
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