More than 2,000 eighth-grade students participate in Pathways2Possibilities Robert Magobet

Apr 7, 2016

More than 2,000 eighth graders and at-risk youth from across the Delta participated in Greenville’s inaugural Pathways2Possibilities Career Expo. The hands-on, interactive expo began Wednesday and continues today at the Washington County Convention Center as eighth graders from 36 public, private and parochial schools learned about different career opportunities.

“It’s hands-on activities, and it’s supposed to be a conversation starter between the students and the educators and the students and their parents,” project manager of Pathways2Possibilities Paige Roberts said. “It’s supposed to be the springboard for future interactions with professionals and interactions with actual jobs. Every one of these children was born to do something, and we are helping them explore what that something could be.”

The event features 19 exhibits that are aligned with career pathways set by the Mississippi Department of Education, including distribution and logistics; aerospace; transportation; agriculture; marketing; good and natural resources; marine science; architecture and construction; manufacturing; arts; corrections and security; A/V technology and communications; public safety; business management and administration; law; education and training; information technology; energy; human services; engineering and polymer science; hospitality and tourism; finance; health sciences; and government and public administration. Coordinating hands-on activities in an effort to inspire students were pathfinders, which were representatives from a number of businesses, including NASA, Mississippi Delta Community College, Delta Arts Alliance, Milwaukee Tool, Entergy, Hooker Engineering, Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Greenville Fire Department, Delta Regional Medical Center, Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa, USG Interiors and Delta State University Flight School. Leland School Park eighth-grade student Jaiven Tucker didn’t want to leave the health care pathway, where he was fascinated as he looked through a microscope at red and white blood cells. He also learned how lungs operate as a person inhales and exhales and got to see what germs look like.

“The health care station really motivated me to pursue that profession because instead of helping yourself, you are helping people with your job,” Tucker said. For Tucker, the expo was an opportunity to see, rather than hear, what careers are available. Tucker’s classmate, Imani Campbell, felt the same way: “Each station showed students how much the profession pays and how much education you need,” she said. “And it gives you an example of what you can be doing for the rest of your life.” The idea for the expo was born in the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce’s education committee about four years ago. After a successful event in Biloxi at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center, which drew about 6,200 eighth-grade students from private and public schools in the state’s six southernmost counties, the legislature wanted to expand the program.

Greenville’s event was organized by South Delta Planning and Development District and headed by Karen Sock and Paige Roberts. Mayor Errick Simmons, who attended Wednesday’s opening day, applauded the efforts of those who helped bring the expo to Greenville. “I just want to applaud Karen and Paige for bringing such a life changing experience to our eighth graders in Greenville, Washington County and the Mississippi Delta,” Simmons said. “The level of preparedness this endeavor has is unmatched. We are looking forward to this inaugural event. We are looking forward to many, many, many more of these. “This investment is a direct investment towards economic development in the Mississippi Delta.”

From Delta Democrat-Times
rmagobet@ddtonline.com | Posted: Thursday, April 7, 2016 11:44 am