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Rockbridge County High School has many opportunities for students to succeed in academics suited to their desired career path.
This year the RCHS Trade and Career Fair was held in the RCHS gymnasium on Feb. 22. The fair brought in a total of 46 booths representing businesses, workshops, trade schools and more from Roanoke, Staunton, Lynchburg and Rockbridge County. Juniors and seniors were invited down during second and third period to visit the fair.
Each table had flyers, stickers, and other products showcasing each business, as well as job applications for interested students.
One program that RCHS was eager to host was the Liberty School of Aviation. Other programs that came to the fair included the Rockbridge County Public Schools, MP2 Contractors LLC, Natural Bridge State Park, Mohawk Industry, Paul Mitchel The School Roanoke, Mountain Gateway Community College, Goad’s Body Shop, Southern Inn Restaurant, and The News-Gazette.
Robyn Sherman, workbased learning coordinator, organized the job fair through her work-based learning program “Cat Crew Works.” Behind the scenes, she contacts the businesses and schools that attend the fair.
“I hope to provide students with options in case they choose not to go to college,” said Sherman. “The Cat Crew Works Trade School/Career Fair was a dream come true for me that connected our community with our student body. It has always been one of my career goals to make real-life connections for students, especially when it comes to planning for their future and choosing the career path that is right for them.”
Senior Emma Bates said, “It gave me a chance to observe different options, so that I can have an idea of what I would like to do once I leave high school.”
One opportunity that was presented at the trade and career fair is through Everbright in Buena Vista. This opportunity is for students to become employees after they have gone back to school. This school is fully paid for by Everbright.
As Sherman looks to next year, she hopes to make changes to accommodate for the consistent expansion. Days after the event, many businesses, including Kendal, Heritage Hall, Mckee Food Production, Advanced Technology Institute and Priority Patient Transport, contacted her with the hope of being able to participate in the years to come. Sherman also hopes to expand the job fair to include mock interviews for students conducted by local businesses.
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY Deputy Sean Capps, the handler for bomb sniffing dog Gunner, talks with RCHS students at the school’s recent Trade and Career Fair. (Darryl Woodson photo)
