Students in Aiken, Edgefield and Barnwell counties will have the chance to meet with colleges, technical schools and employers during the inaugural career and college night.
Organized by the Aiken Works initiative, the event will be from 4 to 7 p.m. March 15 at the University of South Carolina Aiken Convocation Center.
Aiken Works Lead Larry Millstead said the event will offer a broad spectrum of post-high school opportunities across the CSRA. They have so far received commitments from 25 schools, ranging from two-year and four-year colleges along with technical and specialty schools. At least 35 businesses will also be participating.
“In the older days, really, you only talked about three things, and that was college, military or going to get a job. And you didn’t have conversations like we do today with our students, especially in planning those two, three years ahead, where they want to be, where they want to go with life,” he said. “Now we’re providing those opportunities.”
Millstead said this will be unlike career fairs held in the past for high school juniors and seniors.
“This is a step above, this is getting not only the students involved, but parents involved so parents can see what these career and technology programs are about, that there are ways to have successful lives after high school without going to a four-year college and getting $80,000 to $90,000 in debt.”
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Joe Long, director of counseling for Aiken County public schools, said this is the next step in a process the district began several years ago. Graduating seniors are required to provide their school with a post-graduation plan.
“They do one of a couple of things. One, they have an acceptance letter to a four-year or two-year college. Or they show where they signed to go into the military, or they’re going to have a job and have something from an employer,” he said.
Another unique aspect to this event is parents may also find opportunities for themselves.
“We’re encouraging businesses that if they have current openings, whether it’s a parent that wants to apply, or a student for a part-time job, to accept resumes or applications on the spot. We’re going to try to have an area set up to where if there’s some paperwork that employer may need filled out, they can go, sit, fill it out, take it right back to the employers table,” Millstead said.
“This is really a buffet of opportunities for all of our kids,” said Long. “Whether you’re looking at going to a four-year college, or you want to find out about maybe how to be a beautician, a welder, or get some kind of certification. Anything and everything is going to be on the table for our kids. And that’s what we’re excited about.”
The event will include door prizes and scholarship drawings for juniors and seniors.
Students are encouraged to pre-register at: https://apply.usca.edu/register/powerup
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
