Featured photo: Henderson County Public Schools juniors learn about the film industry during the Oct. 18 Career Day. (High resolution photos are available on Google Drive.)
By: Benjamin Rickert
Marketing & Communications Dept.
Over a thousand area high school eleventh-graders met professionals from dozens of career fields during the October 18 Career Day event hosted by Blue Ridge Community College. For 43 years, Blue Ridge has partnered with Henderson County Public Schools to help students consider their career aspirations through the annual event.
Henderson County students learn about healthcare careers at Blue Ridge Community College.
“Career Day was an exciting opportunity for high school juniors to explore their career options by talking with professionals in fields that interested them,” said Blue Ridge Director of Corporate and Customized Training Shanda Bedoian. “We were glad to once again partner with Henderson County Public Schools to inspire and advise these students as they prepare for the future.”
After a keynote address by Blair Craven, a Henderson High graduate and Financial Advisor with Baird Private Wealth Management, students chose career sessions set in college labs, classrooms and facilities. Students explored career fields such as nursing, machining, agriculture, information technology, public safety, banking, education, film and video, skilled trades and more. Each session was led by a working professional who answered student questions and spoke about their experience in the field.
“Thanks to this long-standing collaboration between Blue Ridge Community College and Henderson County Public Schools, our campus was filled with professionals sharing their journeys and practical advice with students,” added Bedoian. “We’re grateful to all of our business partners who joined us to invest in these students.”
Blue Ridge Community College offers multiple pathways for high school students to earn tuition-free college credit and accelerate the completion of certificates, diplomas and associate degrees through the Career and College Promise program. These pathways save families thousands of dollars and accelerate a student’s progress toward their chosen profession. Pathways in Career and Technical Education give students a head start into the workforce with relevant credentials. Other pathways are transferable to North Carolina’s public four-year universities and numerous independent colleges. Students and families can learn more at www.blueridge.edu/ccp.