High schoolers learn about local job opportunities at JA Inspire
ZANESVILLE, Ohio – More than 1,200 highschoolers from across Muskingum County came to the Muskingum County Fairgrounds to learn about their career opportunities.
JA Inspire is a career-pathway program in partnership with local employers, colleges, and trade schools to expose students to jobs, career opportunities, and education pathways while planning high school course work. The career exploration event today was presented by local partners like the Zanesville Muskingum Camber of Commerce, Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center or MVESC, and Junior Achievement.
“Junior Achievement is an Organization that works to engage students in experiential learning, programs and activities where we can bring employers together and really help kids understand what’s possible for them after high school graduation and introduce them to concepts like financial literacy and career readiness, entrepreneurship. And really with the goal to allow kids to feel like they choice filled future,” said Beth Tyburski, the senior vice president for Central Ohio Junior Achievement.
Local collaborators like the MVESC think that events like this give their students a valuable eye-opening experience.
“I think it’s huge for our students just to bring career awareness. You know a lot of students in our area don’t know what jobs are out there, don’t know what jobs are right here in Muskingum County, in our community and the surrounding counties,” said Eastin Lewellen, assistant superintendent at MVESC. “So I think bringing awareness to let them know that these positions are there. You can make good money right here in our community. You don’t have to go to Columbus. You don’t have to these other areas. I think that’s huge for our kids just awareness wise.”
While students are learning about the options their future holds, adult community members also take away lessons from this event.
“Folks that are older say the young folks don’t want to work,” said Dana Matz, president and CEO of the Zanesville Muskingum Chamber of Commerce. “It’s been very interesting today to listen to the students interacting with the businesses and then some of the conversations I’ve been able to be in. The kids didn’t know about these jobs. So often times the students know what their immediate family or maybe their neighbors do and they don’t about all the opportunities that are available right here in their own back yard. ”
Other collaborators who helped present the event include Genesis Healthcare System and Ohio Means Jobs. If you’d like to learn more about Junior Achievement and JA Inspired you can visit their website.
