GCC holds Career Exploration Day

By LARRY HOLCOMBE

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Ironwood - High school juniors from across the region attended a Campus and Career Exploration Day at Gogebic Community College on Thursday.

The fourth annual event was planned and hosted by the college, the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Works and the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District.

"This is one of our really big outreaches to link up school students with area businesses to counteract the idea that there's nothing to do here, that there's no opportunity here," said Ironwood Chamber director Michael Meyer.

He said there were "approximately 52 businesses and 385 students - juniors and some seniors from most of the high schools in Gogebic County and Hurley."

Meyer distinguished the event, from a job fair.

"It's an exploration event for the students to meet all these different businesses and get a chance to talk with them," he said. "All these businesses are looking for skilled workers, and the students get to learn about that. That's the main purpose for our career exploration day."

Meyer said this type of event works well for juniors, and while some seniors were in attendance, many seniors have already made a plan for their next step by now. As for the juniors, "they're trying to figure out where their internal passions and interests lay," he said.

Meyer spoke to the group as the day began and asked the students to think beyond the name of the business. "Just because one of these companies makes widgets, you say, 'Well, I don't want to make a widget.' Yes, but that company has to have accountants, somebody to do the marketing, somebody to run the building's mechanical systems - so don't judge the table by the name of the business. You talk to the people and let them explain to you what all their business entails."

Yvonne Novascone at the Michigan Works table said they were using the event to introduce the students to the programs and the benefits of becoming acquainted with their agency.

"We have a lot of programs that help the students," she said. "There's a Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. We remove barriers that they might have and we sometimes can provide supportive services, like boots for welding or tools for construction. We try to help students get those items through the different programs that we have."

Novascone said she's been with Michigan Works for seven years, but the local office has moved from Ironwood to the Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency building in Bessemer. "It's an ideal situation. We work with Community Action Agency."

Kim Zechovich, director of admissions, marketing and community relations for the college, said the day was an important day for the students to learn about the college and potential careers, but the college was learning from the businesses gathered, as well.

"It's always a very exciting day for us to collaborate with the chamber, Michigan Works and the GOISD to bring this event to fruition. It gives the students a chance to explore their futures and their careers, as well as learn more about GCC and what we have to offer," she said.

Besides having 45 minutes to wander among the tables of business representatives and GCC and GOISD programs set up in the Lindquist Center gym in either an early or late session, the students also had a tour of the college and were served lunch. A third session was set aside for GCC students.

"We're learning a lot, too," said Zechovich. "A lot of these businesses have summer employment opportunities, internship opportunities for our local students - opportunities they may not know about, and we're learning about them as well."

"It's a great day for the students to learn that these opportunities exist right here," said Meyer. "We're thankful to the college for hosting."