By Cathy Higgins
BAY MINETTE, Ala. — The Baldwin County High School Horizon Career Expo made its debut Thursday morning.
The inaugural event gave the 600 BCHS juniors and seniors the opportunity to learn about academic and employment opportunities beyond graduation.
According to 11th-grader Savannah Hollis, it was just what she needed.
“I was looking for nursing,” she said at the event, “and they told us a lot about it.”
Hollis got that information from one of the numerous representatives of colleges and north Baldwin County businesses, who were on hand to answer questions and provide pamphlets or booklets for the students.
According to Paul Morris of Gulf Packaging in Bay Minette, visitors to his booth had plenty of questions.
“Questions like the type of education required for the different positions at our company,” he said at the event, “Who buys the boxes we build and what do we use to design and create the boxes.”
For BCHS senior Joshua Primm, visiting Flowerwood Nursery’s booth may lead to a summer job and eventual career opportunity.
“I’m taking landscaping (class) right now,” he said at the event.
Karen McElroy of Flowerwood Nursery explained that her business falls right in line with his agricultural studies.
“This is a practical application of what he’s learning,” she said.
But coworker April Schmidt added that the expo provided the opportunity to let students know about her company’s other opportunities, which include welding, mechanical work and advertising.
According to North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Brandon Simpson, such a connection is exactly what the expo was meant to be about.
“I’m impressed with how the students have engaged with the employers in learning about opportunities that could shape their future right here in north Baldwin County,” he said.
Funded by the Baldwin County Board of Education, the BCHS Career Horizon Expo was implemented by the Chamber and volunteers from North Baldwin Young Professionals.
