CHAT students explore careers
Published 9:32 pm Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Students from Selma CHAT Academy were eager to learn more about different careers during the 10th annual Business Expo held last week. Students talked to representatives from a wide variety of fields. -- Special photo
Seventh and eighth grade students at Selma Middle CHAT Academy learned about real world work experience during the school’s 10th annual Business Expo held Thursday, Dec. 8 inside the school’s gymnasium.
Sponsored by Selma Middle’s Career Tech Department, students who attended the expo were a part of the Future Business Leaders of America program, or FBLA, and showcased portfolios, semester projects and personal talents. Area businesses and community professionals from areas such as the Alabama State Department of Education, Vaughan Regional Medical Center and Dallas County District Court, were on hand to discuss specific career paths and conduct mock interviews with students.
FBLA sponsor Anne Williamson said the expo gives students a chance to interact with various professionals in career fields they’re interested in.
“They have the opportunity to ask questions, learn about the careers and participate in mock interviews,” Williamson said. “This experience helps students to decide if the careers match their personal interests, skills and values.”
Career tech teacher and FBLA sponsor Brenda Edwards said the event brings exposure to students.
“We’re exposing students to a world of careers — preparing them for the future,” Edwards said.
Students who presented the program were Chequita Wilson, Kiara Suttles, Jalexia Dubose, Janice Jackson, Taylor Steele, Gerald Barron, Amya Hudson, Jatari Reddick-Hardy, Amyrreah Eaton, Ty’Shawn Pettway, Brandon Moore, Gerald Barron, Tyree Cole and Chadwick Shears.
Business professionals who participated include: Arthur Capers of Selma City Schools Central Office; Dallas County District Judge Bob Armstrong, Frankie Hutchins of Selma University; Willietta Ellis Conner of State Department of Education; Gwendolyn Watts and Sonya Reus of the Dallas County Department of Human Resources; portrait artist and SCS art instructor Phyllis Parks; Vivian Black of the Selma Career Center; PT Plus Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation director at Vaughan Regional Medical Center Dr. William Perkins; Alabama Department of Public Safety public information officer John Reese, Sandy Motley and Ursula Cole of Warren Manor Nursing Home, entrepreneur Edie Delp; parent facilitator Cynthia Perkins and representatives from the Selma Times-Journal.
