Career Exploration Summit Illustration
In a first of its kind initiative, the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee recently organized a Career Technical Exploration Summit at First Flight High School, sparking keen interest among students for various lucrative technical career opportunities in the district.
The purpose of this unique summit was to expose students to an array of technical career paths by facilitating open dialogues with professionals and experts from the industries. More than 100 students seized this opportunity to acquire valuable insights about industry specifics, such as potential salaries, benefits, certifications, advancement opportunities, and the prospect of internships.
Ten organizations participated in this exploration summit, including noteworthy sponsors Kellogg Supply Co. and Outer Banks Pest Control. Other participants represented a diverse range of businesses and service providers, from the Coastal Animal Hospital, One Hour Heating & Cooling, to A.R. Chesson, Suburban Electric, among others.
Reflecting on the success of the event, representative of the Outer Banks Health, and Chair of the Chamber’s Education Committee, Lynne Miles articulated, “This was a fantastic opportunity to show students that there are well-paying career paths available right here in our community that do not require a four-year college education.”
Working on the momentum generated by this successful event, the Education Committee is now planning a series of programs to continue empowering students with valuable industry knowledge. This includes a Maritime Job Fair, a Soft Skills Summit, and additional Career Tech Summits exclusively planned for students in the district.
Serving the Dare, Currituck, and Hyde County area, the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization committed to supporting and speaking up for member businesses. Currently, it represents more than 900 businesses and organizations in the area. For additional information about their programs, please get in touch with the Chamber directly at (252) 441-8144.
Shell-shocked by the revelation of local opportunities, students of the First Flight High School returned home, eager for the next Career Tech Summit.
As the Outer Banks community blossoms with new businesses settling in, it’s clear that events like these will play an integral role in bridging the gap between the students and local industries, paving the way for generating a self-sufficient workforce in the district.