Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools January 2014 | Page 11

UCPS students get career insight from business leaders

With more than 100 area business and
“These skills are necessary no
industry leaders sharing insight into their chosen
matter where you go in life,” Nelson
professions on Nov. 19, 2013, BizEd 2013, a lot
said. “Whether you’re going into
of high school students’ career paths are sure to
the military, a four-year school or
have been impacted.
manufacturing, you need those skills to
Students from six UCPS high schools –
be successful. It’s what pays the bills.”
Cuthbertson, Forest Hills, Monroe, Porter Ridge,
A nuclear engineer from Duke
Sun Valley and Weddington High Schools – were
Energy, Wesley Broome, said he
exposed to careers that spanned everything
wanted to talk to students not only
from law enforcement to medical and nuclear
about nuclear energy, but also about
engineering.
engineering in general.
This second annual event is the initiative
“We like to educate people,
of the Union County Education Foundation and
particularly young people, about
connects area businesses and business leaders
nuclear energy,” Broome said. “There
Paul Elminowski, a chiropractor with Monroe
directly to UCPS schools and the classroom.
are lots of stereotypes out there, so
Acupuncture and Chiropractic, explains
the process of acupuncture with a group of
Participants, dubbed “VIPs” (Volunteers
we like to be a force presenting facts.
students at Sun Valley High School.
Igniting Potential), offered students an overview
I would also like to talk to them about
of their occupations, showed examples of their
engineering career in general.”
jobs, demonstrated equipment used in their fields and offered personal
Sun Valley High School Principal Dr. Shaun Poole said the event was
insight into required education and job skills.
an excellent example of the three Rs in education – rigor, relevance and
“It’s a win-win in both directions,” said the Education Foundation
relationships.
Board of Directors Chairman Dr. Ed Davis. “First, the kids get to see
“The rigor is evident in the classroom as the students work with the
the relevance of the education they’re receiving now and how it applies
teachers every day. The relevance comes in by having