CCS juniors consider options for after graduation
Published 11:44 am Thursday, April 27, 2017
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By JOYANNA LOVE/Senior Staff Writer
Chilton County Schools high school juniors turned their thoughts to life after graduation during a college and career fair on April 26.
The fair was organized by CCS career Coach Kim Benson and several colleges, universities, military recruiters and employers were present.
The variety of colleges at the fair gave the students a chance to see majors specific to the colleges and universities represented. For example, University of Alabama in Huntsville offers engineering as well as atmosphere and weather-related science majors because they are near Marshall Space Flight Center.
Brooke Hornfeck with the University of Alabama in Huntsville said she was encouraging students to look at all the options available and find out what is best for them.
She said it was important for the university to participate in the fair because “we are wanting to get students from all over to enhance our university, good students from everywhere.”
Lawson State Community College in Birmingham and Bessemer has a culinary arts program.
Joe Hollins with LSCC said the college was at the fair “to continue the relationship with Chilton County Schools.”
Hollins also emphasized the college’s nursing and automotive program.
Rebecca Elder of Winonah School of Cosmetology, located in Hoover, said participating in the college fair helps get the institution’s name out in the community, while promoting the opportunities for students.
“We offer day and night classes, so it makes it easy for them,” Elder said. “We have a very high job rate, so that is one thing that is very good for the students.”
Representatives from Alabama Power were introducing students to the wide variety of jobs available through the power company.
“If you work for Alabama power, you have to have a desire somewhere for helping people,” Charlie Crenshaw of Alabama power said.
Crenshaw said he saw having a table at the college and career fair as helping students as they plan for the future.
“Alabama Power offers job and career opportunities for students, whether your interest is going to school or from an entry level, just giving an opportunity to any student whatever their interests are and how they can make an impact to the company and their community, so when we are talking to students we want them to know it is not just a college graduate opportunity, it’s for everybody,” Kim Williams of Alabama Power said.
She said she also emphasizes to students that Alabama Power is also working on more renewable energy options and energy efficiency.
“We have a lot of new innovations: solar, gas and renewable things that are pretty exciting,” Williams said.
The college and career fair was held on the Clanton campus of Jefferson State Community College. Every high school junior in the Chilton County schools had the opportunity to participate.
