MVHS Holds Career Exploration Day for Students

Mt. Vernon High School (MVHS) students were encouraged to dream about their futures and were recently exposed to a variety of careers that align with academic pathways at MVHS. The one-day career exposure event, sponsored by the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation, offered a career exploration assembly to freshmen in the morning while sophomores and juniors were taking the PSAT. During this assembly, guest speakers from various career pathways shared detailed information about their jobs. In the afternoon, after students finished PSAT testing, all students attended a college and career fair where they were able to learn that it is never too early to start preparing for their futures.

The morning assembly started off with a session on anti-vaping presented by Brandee Bastin and Tim Rutherford with Hancock Health. Then, Ashlee Guthrie, Dashyia Haywood, and Lisa Cooper from Three Rivers Credit Union gave a presentation on career exploration where students participated in fun and engaging activities to motivate them to think about their futures. 

The morning was then rounded off with a panel of guest speakers who represented six different career pathways offered at MVHS. The panelists spoke about their jobs and career paths, inspiring students to ask questions and learn about each career. The panelists were Jason Wells (Hancock Health, representing the Health Science pathway), Bill Spalding (Indiana State Police, representing the Criminal Justice pathway), Ryan Ferris (Fortville Feeders, representing the Welding pathway), John Mascoe (Leaftech AgriScience, representing the Agriscience pathway), Florence May (Vernon Township, representing the Entrepreneurship pathway), and Chris Brunner & Tyron Rainer (Hitachi Astemo Americas, Inc., representing the manufacturing pathway).

MVHS Assistant Principal Stan Wilkison has been a leader in the county helping to bring career and technical opportunities to MVHS and Hancock County. Wilkison shared, “Mt. Vernon’s initiative is to expand opportunities for students to ensure our students are college and career ready.  MVHS has added CTE programs that offer dual credit and industry standard certifications as well as different career pathways to better prepare the students.”

After this, students attended a college and career fair in a MVHS gymnasium showcasing over 25 vocational, collegiate and workforce opportunities. Students were able to visit with each exhibitor and speak one-on-one with representatives to learn more information and ask questions.

During this school day that was focused on career exploration, seniors were given the opportunity to job shadow or visit colleges and universities. Activities and exposure to multiple careers and school pathways inspired students thinking about their futures and dream about what might just become reality!