Career Day held for parish system students

More than 600 Iberville Parish students traveled to an Explorer’s Club Career and College Fair held over a two-day period last week at the Carl F. Grant Civic Center.

The students went to learn about opportunities for college and for careers by interviewing four professionals from government, business, and industry during the event.

 Iberville Parish School System, LA Gear Up and the Louisiana Board of Regents sponsored the special event. More than 50 businesses participated in the event.

LA Gear Up, a competitive grant-funded program, is designed to help students plan and prepare for college. Iberville Parish is one of 57 parishes who were awarded the funding  

 This year, the Explorer’s Club at each school helped to plan and conduct the fair to provide all students in grades 7 through 11 with community opportunities to explore, plan, and prepare for college and a career. They are also building leadership skills and enhancing their academic skills. Students did 40 minutes of interviews with four individuals and then had an additional 20 minutes for open discovery learning.

The school system is using the grant to enhance its career development programming, including specific activities for academic enrichment and student financial support for higher education.

LA Gear Up includes: a writing contest, competitive scholarships with student awards of $1,000, $500 and $250 tied directly to academic achievement, parental involvement, and student responsibility activities. Based on incentives, students receive the opportunity to attend free one-week residential camps hosted on university campuses. Students receive individual academic support and tutoring, develop leadership skills, research and plan for their future education and career, and enjoy daily recreation and field trips. During the school year, they are reinforcing their goals and academic growth with college as a goal through Explorers Clubs on their school campuses.

 “This grant has given our students new college and career opportunities. Many are earning savings that can be used toward dual credit courses or college courses at a later date,” said Superintendent P. Edward Cancienne, Jr. “This is giving our students hope for their future.”

“The program steers all students onto a path toward college, especially those who may not have thought the opportunity was open to them,” said Olive Tuminello, who spearheaded the effort.

During the event, students time was divided into various ten-minute segments with the predominance of time spend interacting and learning from the business representatives about their careers, education, and directives.

“We cannot express our sincere thanks to each and every organization, business, and industry that came to the event to help these students learn about career goal setting and about the skills needed,” said Cancienne.