"Students Exploring Technical Careers"
Outer Banks, North Carolina – First Flight High School was the hotspot of exploration as the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce’s Educational Committee hosted a technical career-rich summit. The Career Technical Exploration Summit, held on February 27, served as a platform showcasing career opportunities that may not necessarily warrant a four-year college education.
The underlying purpose of the Summit was to expose students to an array of technical careers by providing them the opportunity to engage with professionals currently thriving in such fields. Complete with interactive sessions where students were enlightened about job benefits, advancement prospects, salaries, prerequisite certifications, and available internships, the Summit drew over 100 eager participants.
Sponsors, Kellogg Supply Co. and Outer Banks Pest Control, were instrumental in fostering this link between students and technical career fields. Other participating businesses encompassed a range of industries, from the medical field represented by Outer Banks Health and Coastal Animal Hospital, to technical services like A.R. Chesson and Suburban Electric, and educational institutions such as the College of the Albemarle.
“What a great opportunity to show students that there are well paying career paths available in our own community that do not require a four-year college education”, Lynne Miles, Chair of the Chamber’s Education Committee member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber, was quoted saying.
Miles’ sentiment royally captures the fundamental essence behind the Career Technical Exploration Summit: demonstrating to students that gratifying and remunerative career options do exist within their local communities, ones that don’t inherently dictate a traditional college pathway.
But this, the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce conveyed, is just the start. They plan on hosting additional Career Tech Summits for the district’s students. Under consideration are also the prospects of a Maritime Job Fair, a Soft Skills Summit and further educative programs.
Representing a staggering 900+ businesses and organizations hailing from the Dare, Currituck and Hyde County region, Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce essentially is an enabling entity that fosters economic growth and opportunities.
They act as the frontline for local businesses, supporting and advocating on behalf of their member enterprises. They can be reached at (252) 441-8144 for more information on their initiatives and available programs.
In the grand scheme of defining career pathways, community-driven initiatives like the Career Technical Exploration Summit possess immense value. They tweak the conventional narrative surrounding career choices, revealing promising and tangible opportunities that lie beyond the beaten path. Initiatives like these are integral to encourage youth exploration and bolster local economies.