Indian Lake upperclassmen are connecting with area employers for employment now and opportunities for the future.
Ninety local businesses and organizations set up shop during the 7th Annual Logan County Career Expo held recently at Indian Lake High School. Students from several Logan and Hardin County schools visited booths set up in the ILHS Main Gym, the ILHS Auxiliary Gym and the hallways nearby.
All ILHS Juniors in the College and Career planning class attended the event. Representatives from the fields of agriculture, health care, retail, food service, finance, manufacturing, construction, law enforcement and more were onhand. Educators encouraged students to talk with as many employers as possible. Some even participated in scheduled and on-the-spot interviews for positions that are available.
ILHS Junior Ryan Culp plans to go to college out of high school, but he is already exploring where he might work once he earns a degree.
Culp explains, “I want to be a nutritionist, so I’m looking around here to see if there are any jobs in the area in that career field. At the same time, I’m trying to find a summer job that I can make a good amount of money to put toward paying for my college.”
Junior Callie Burba came to the Expo with a similar plan to make connections at area health care facilities.
“I’m looking for places that offer therapy and social work so I can help people with their mental health,” Burba said.
During the Expo junior Logan Duncan filled out employment applications for a few local factories. He says he wants to work this summer and lay the groundwork for his Plan B.
“I’m hoping to go to college for architecture for four years and go from there. But manufacturing and factory work is my back up plan and I’m getting started.”
Logan County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ben Vollrath met with students before they entered the Expo.
He says there are still many more jobs available in our area than we have people to fill positions, so this is an exciting day for local employers as they also try to connect with future employees.
“There’s some skills students need to have; being able to communicate and have good interactions. That’s the baseline. Employers are saying we need people that are willing to work and we’ll train you on what you need to know.
Vollrath continues, “We have employers here with every kind of job need. So some will be looking for folks straight out of high school to be working full time. Others could start at an entry level spot and employers will actually help get them the education and training to move up into higher positions in the company.”
The annual Logan County Career Expo is a product of the Logan County Collaborative. It is coordinated by the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center in partnership with Logan County Chamber of Commerce, Logan County Job and Family Services, local school administrators and committee members from local businesses.
High school is not only a stepping stone to employment, enlistment, or enrollment, but a time when teens have the opportunity to explore what interests them. The “3 E” initiative strives to create opportunities for students to have a solid grasp when they graduate if they intend to be Employed, Enlisted or Enrolled. Finding the “E” that fits their goals and passion is an important step. A successful future is fueled by Career exploration in high school. Area high school students have been invited to participate in the 7th Annual Logan County Career Expo on Thursday, March 23rd hosted by Indian Lake High School. This educational opportunity will be attended by many juniors and seniors from Bellefontaine City, Benjamin Logan Local, Indian Lake Local, Kenton City, Ridgemont Local, Riverside Local, & Upper Scioto Valley Schools. Representatives from dozens of local businesses, industries, & the military will be showcasing what opportunities they have to offer.
Each school will attend the Expo during a prearranged time block. During the Expo, students will have the opportunity to interact and interview with representatives with many different career opportunities available now and in the future. Onsite students interested in the military will be provided the opportunity to speak with recruiters. This Expo is an outcome of the Logan County Collaborative. It is coordinated by the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center in partnership with Logan County Chamber of Commerce, Logan County Job and Family Services, local school administrators and committee members from local businesses. For more information, please contact Karen Sorreles at the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center, 599-5195 ext. 5506 or Lydia Hess at the Logan County Chamber of Commerce 937-599-5121.
Indian Lake High School senior Aubrey Johnson is making inroads for her future.
She applied for jobs, interviewed with potential employers and even signed up to receive emails when Honda of America Manufacturing has any openings during the Third Annual Logan County Career Expo held at Indian Lake High School Friday.
“I’m thinking about going into production right away, like Honda through Adecco, so I can make good money, rise up and go on and get my degree,” Johnson said.
Johnson was just one of nearly a thousand local students who took part in the Expo, sponsored by the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center and the Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce. Juniors and seniors from Bellefontaine, Benjamin Logan, Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, Riverside and West Liberty-Salem High Schools, along with Indian Lake, got the chance to meet with representatives from 55 local companies that are looking to hire.
The Expo kicked off with a panel of experts on unmanned vehicles detailing jobs of the future in the US 33 corridor. Then students were able to talk with workforce representatives in the main gym and auxiliary gym, plus interview for positions in another conference room.
MRESC Youth Development Liaison Karen Sorreles says in the event’s third year, organizers made a few changes to help students and businesses more easily connect.
“We categorized them this year where one was STEM, one had business and entrepreneurship, and the other was health and human services. We encouraged the students, even if they know the career they want to go into, to visit all the areas.”
Students were even able to try out equipment like the Bellefontaine Police Department’s impaired driving goggles and a table top injection molding machine at the World Class Plastics display.
Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Daily Operations Erin Henry says more than 700 jobs are available in Logan County right now.
“They range anywhere from food service, to retail, to industry, to even college degreed positions. An event like this helps fill all those voids. It may not be immediate employment, but it builds relationships and connections and introduces students to everything we have here in Logan County.”
Meantime, Johnson is eager to enter the world of work for one of these employers.
“I could start in April. I hope I have options to choose from.”
Photo 1: Dave Weisniewski from World Class Plastics helps ILHS Senior Sam Roach work with the tabletop injection molding machine.
Photo 2: ILHS Seniors Darrian Dorsey and Aubrey Johnson sign up for employment
emails from Honda with help from Michelle Stout from the Honda East Liberty plant.
Photo 3: The Third Annual Logan County Career Expo in the main gym at ILHS.
Photo 4: ILHS Senior Aubrey Johnson interviews with a local business at the Logan County Career Expo.
Indian Lake High School senior Aubrey Johnson is making inroads for her future.
She applied for jobs, interviewed with potential employers and even signed up to receive emails when Honda of America Manufacturing has any openings during the Third Annual Logan County Career Expo held at Indian Lake High School Friday.
“I’m thinking about going into production right away, like Honda through Adecco, so I can make good money, rise up and go on and get my degree,” Johnson said.
Johnson was just one of nearly a thousand local students who took part in the Expo, sponsored by the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center and the Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce. Juniors and seniors from Bellefontaine, Benjamin Logan, Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, Riverside and West Liberty-Salem High Schools, along with Indian Lake, got the chance to meet with representatives from 55 local companies that are looking to hire.
The Expo kicked off with a panel of experts on unmanned vehicles detailing jobs of the future in the US 33 corridor. Then students were able to talk with workforce representatives in the main gym and auxiliary gym, plus interview for positions in another conference room.
MRESC Youth Development Liaison Karen Sorreles says in the event’s third year, organizers made a few changes to help students and businesses more easily connect.
“We categorized them this year where one was STEM, one had business and entrepreneurship, and the other was health and human services. We encouraged the students, even if they know the career they want to go into, to visit all the areas.”
Students were even able to try out equipment like the Bellefontaine Police Department’s impaired driving goggles and a table top injection molding machine at the World Class Plastics display.
Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Daily Operations Erin Henry says more than 700 jobs are available in Logan County right now.
“They range anywhere from food service, to retail, to industry, to even college degreed positions. An event like this helps fill all those voids. It may not be immediate employment, but it builds relationships and connections and introduces students to everything we have here in Logan County.”
Meantime, Johnson is eager to enter the world of work for one of these employers.
“I could start in April. I hope I have options to choose from.”
Photo 1: Dave Weisniewski from World Class Plastics helps ILHS Senior Sam Roach work with the tabletop injection molding machine.
Photo 2: ILHS Seniors Darrian Dorsey and Aubrey Johnson sign up for employment
emails from Honda with help from Michelle Stout from the Honda East Liberty plant.
Photo 3: The Third Annual Logan County Career Expo in the main gym at ILHS.
Photo 4: ILHS Senior Aubrey Johnson interviews with a local business at the Logan County Career Expo.