Sidney High School student Malea Hensley, of Sidney, operates a miniature excavator as Wells Brothers employee Steven Wells watches at the 2023 Career Exploration Academy event on Thursday, Sept. 28. Wells Brothers had several miniature versions of the vehicles they use for construction projects. Hensley is the daughter of Mark and Nikki Carlson.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Lochard Inc. employees Jake Lochard, left, to right, and Nathan Pence, both of Sidney, stand next to Russia Local School student Cooper Unverferth, 15, of Russia, tries out a VR headset at the 2023 Career Exploration Academy event on Thursday, Sept. 28. Unverferth is the son of Andi and Jeremy Unverferth.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Ferguson Construction employee Conor Linniman, left, of Sidney, watches as Sidney High School student Carter Trout, 16, of Houston, learns what it’s like to walk across a beam while wearing a body harness. Ferguson Construction had several stations where students could experience what it is like on a construction site. Trout is the son of Nicole and Bill Trout.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Sidney High School student Sam New, left, 18, of Sidney, attempts to insert an ET tube into a dummy with the help of Lt. Chance Guisinger, of Anna. The Sidney Fire Department had the lifesaving stand at the 2023 Career Exploration Academy event on Thursday, Sept. 28. New is the son of Wade and Stacy New.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Russia Local School student Xavier Quinter, left, 16, of Russia, makes a metal tool box with help from Slagle Mechanical employee Treighton Edwards, of Anna. The stand was run by Slagle Mechanical at the 2023 Career Exploration Academy event on Thursday, Sept. 28. Quinter is the son of Amy and Tony Quinter.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Air Handling Equipment Service Technician Zane Cline, left, watches as Sidney High School Student Coby North, 15, of Sidney, uses compressed air to push a plastic donut towards the center of a bullseye. Air Handling Equipment was operating the stand at the 2023 Career Exploration Academy event on Thursday, Sept. 28. North is the son of Ashley Murray and Craig North.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Sidney Police Officer Bryce Stewart speaks to a group of students at the 2023 Career Exploration Academy event on Thursday, Sept. 28.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Ohio Living Dorothy Love Director of Nursing Nyky Brewer, of New Bremen, lets a group of students listen to what a healthy and an unhealthy heart sound like. Ohio Living Dorothy Love stand was at the 2023 Career Exploration Academy event on Thursday, Sept. 28.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Detailed Machining Plant Manager Todd Scaggs, left of Troy, talks to Sidney High School student Braylon Anderson, 15, of Sidney. Detailed Machining had a stand at the 2023 Career Exploration Academy event on Thursday, Sept. 28. Anderson is the son of Jessica Bryce and Michael Marchal.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Sidney High School student Chris Fraim, 15, of Sidney, practices using a rivet gun. Using rivets was part of an Airstream stand at the 2023 Career Exploration Academy event on Thursday, Sept. 28. Fraim is the son of Jennie Overbey and Donald Fraim.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Wilson Health Sonographer Anna Ullery, left, of West Milton, shows a sonogram to Russia Local School student Madison Schulte, 14, of Russia. Ullery was running a Wilson Health stand at the 2023 Career Exploration Academy event on Thursday, Sept. 28. Madison is the daughter of Ashley and Greg Schulte.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
Russia Local School student Allie Meyer, 14, attempts to unwrap a piece of candy while Ella Meyer, 16, both of Russia, watches. The exercise was part of a Shelby County Board of Developmental Disabilities stand at the 2023 Career Exploration Academy event on Thursday, Sept. 28. The oven mitts were a way of simulating how difficult a simple task can be with a disability. Allie is the daughter of Liz and Dave Meyer. Ella is the daughter of Bethany and Justin Meyer.
By Charlotte Caldwell
SIDNEY – The 2023 and 8th annual Workforce Partnership Career Exploration Academy was held Sept. 28 and 29 at the Shelby County Fairgrounds with 12 school districts and approximately 1,000 students from grades 8-12 in attendance.
Before students transitioned into learning about potential careers, LJ Jellison with The Jellison Group showed students how putting yourself out there and making yourself stand out from a crowd can lead to greater rewards. He discussed four ways to take advantage of your life: know your strengths; don’t judge a book by its cover, especially your own; take advantage of every opportunity; and show up and do your best. Then he demonstrated these tips with student volunteers.
Jellison asked for a volunteer to sing “Happy Birthday” and the volunteer received $20 for participating. After, he asked for four volunteers for a dance competition, and the participants received $5 each because they were not the first to volunteer.
“Everything you do in life, there is no crystal ball. You think you know what you want, chances are you don’t. You think you know the path you’re taking, chances are you don’t,” Jellison said. “We don’t get to make those assumptions or predictions. All we get to do is face those times in the moment and decide do I go left or right.
The longer you wait, the longer you hide in the crowd, the longer you mix in with everyone else, the further from your goal you are. In order to find our dreams, in order to find what you want to do, in order to find your passion in your career, you have to be looking. You have to understand who you are, what your strengths are, and you have to understand which direction you want to head in,” Jellison concluded.
During half-day sessions, students rotated through five different stations and learned about local employers and career pathways and participated in hands-on activities. There were 28 employers with 37 career stations at the event, and some activities included making a metal toolbox, trivia games, and practicing healthcare techniques on dummies. Many human resource managers represented their employers at the event and showed students that some employers are not only looking to fill labor-intensive positions, but they also need to fill office positions.
“Workforce Partnership’s mission is to ‘connect education to community careers’ with a goal to help prepare and attract local talent to fill Shelby County jobs. As an industry-sector partnership, the organization brings industry and education together to promote workforce development in the school districts,” Workforce Partnership Executive Director Deb McDermott said. “This event provided students the chance to meet local employers and experience using tools, equipment, technology, and skills that employees use every day. Students also learn what training and education is necessary for each career.”
The employers this year were Advanced Composites Inc., Air Handling Inc., Airstream, Area Energy & Electric Inc., Cargill, CBT, City of Sidney, Continental Express Inc., Copeland, Detailed Machining Inc., Edison State Community College, Ferguson Construction Company, Freshway, Honda, Kirk NationaLease, Lincoln Electric Automation, Lochard Inc., Midwest Regional Education Service Center, Ohio Living Dorothy Love, Panel Control Inc., PlastiPak, Shelby County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Slagle Mechanical Contractors, Superior Aluminum, U.S. Bank, Upper Valley Career Center, Wells Brothers Inc., and Wilson Health. CBT, Midwest Regional Education Service Center and Air Handling attended the event for the first time. The Shelby County United Way sponsors the event.
The schools that participated this year were Anna, Botkins, Christian Academy, Fairlawn, Fort Loramie, Holy Angels, Houston, Jackson Center, Lehman Catholic, Opportunity School, Riverside, Russia, and Sidney.
Tim Johnson, the director of human resources at CBT – an industrial distribution company – attended the event for the company and hoped students would remember CBT from the event so they would apply when it’s time for them to start a career.
“Everyone is competing for talent. You want to make sure everyone knows who you are and where you are and what opportunities there are,” Johnson said.
He mentioned other than a minority of jobs that require technical expertise, no special education is required to work there. The company promotes from within; the company’s vice president of sales started out working in the warehouse, Johnson said.
Elaine Drumm, the human resources manager at Midwest Regional Education Service Center, attended to educate students on the many different jobs in the education field.
“There are not a lot of people that know about the extra careers in education. Most people think it’s just teachers and aides, and really there’s therapists and psychologists and treasurers and financial assistants and HR managers and there’s a lot of different careers that people just don’t know about. So we’re trying to get the word out,” Drumm said.
She mentioned the majority of education careers need at least a bachelor’s degree, but sometimes an employee can work in a central office with a high school diploma.
At the end of the sessions, students heard from Josalin Morris, a student at Christian Academy set to graduate in 2024. She is currently participating in a work-study at Lochard, which is similar to a pre-apprenticeship. According to Lochard Customer Support Manager Alex Lochard, the company has hired three Workforce Partnership career coach students.
“A year ago I was sitting where you guys are. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life,” Morris said. She mentioned how Workforce Partnership Career Coach Kelly Edwards encouraged her to apply to Lochard. “But they didn’t stop there. Workforce Partnership doesn’t just get you the job. They continue through your career.” Workforce Partnership is currently paying for Morris to go to Upper Valley Career Center for adult classes. “Once they get you there, they don’t just stop. They help you out and they keep checking on you. They don’t just leave you. They will help you through it,” Morris concluded.
