Students in our region will have a new opportunity to put their hands on potential careers during the Career Expo. Interactive activities allow students to see, touch, feel, smell and taste a career that could be right for them. Educational entities are also close at hand to place students on the right path to pursue their occupational dreams. All work in tandem to promote careers and interactively show students the correlation between learning and their future career.

"This program has attributed to retention and training issues within our workforce. Tech Prep has done an excellent job in communicating the needs of students to business and industry and connecting educators with their programs."

- Terri Patterson, Director of Workforce Development
Lubbock Economic Development Alliance

The Civic Center was filled with 3,200 juniors and seniors from 49 high schools ready to explore careers available in the South Plains. Over 600 business and college representatives provided exhibits and personnel to share their expertise in hopes of increasing the number of students enrolling in college. It is a fun and exciting event and is a chance for regional partners to work side by side to assist schools in challenging students to plan their future.

This year's Expo featured a unique event "CSI Lubbock." Students from SPC's EMS program, volunteers from Lubbock's Police Dept., and Robert Byers from the Lubbock County Medical Examiner's Office staged a realistic crime scene in the Civic Center Theatre. Students attending were able to see how an actual crime scene would be preserved and investigated, and how each of these entities would be involved. Robert Byers also demonstrated some of the latest technology currently used in the Medical Examiner's Office.

Lubbock Independent School District joined in this year's event. They hand-picked 45 educators--from teachers to principals--to visit in small groups with students about careers in education. One counselor commented, "What LISD did is incredible. They engaged our students, provided wonderful educators who grew up in small towns like ours, and made our students realize that they CAN become teachers, counselors, coaches, and more."

Student Comments:

"All of the people at the booths WANTED to talk to us. They WANTED to tell us about their job and were proud of it. I loved that!"

"He told me that I would get to learn all types of stuff like how to create my own music. Man it's gonna be fun working with that kind of program."

Business Partners' Comments:

"Events such as the Career Expo are critical in exposing today's students to the full realm of the world of work. In today's economy, the importance of a career selection will play an important factor in our future as we develop and select other necessary components of our life. We must start our life with a goal in mind and a career is that goal which will blend our education and interests."
- Martin Aguirre, CEO
WorkSource of the South Plains

"The Career Expo provides exposure to career opportunities that is not matched by any other activity in the Lubbock area. The prospective student's experiences in the various technical areas are hands-on and fun. it is an excellent showcase for the workforce programs at South Plains College."
- Dr. Kelvin Sharp, President
South Plains College

Groundhog Job Shadow Day is one day dedicated to giving regional high school juniors job shadowing experiences. Students get exposure to a wide array of career opportunities available in our region. In addition, it is a chance to bring together educators, employers, employees and students to help students see what it takes to succeed in today’s marketplace.

South Plains Tech Prep is committed to helping students find their career pathway.  Due to our economic needs, Groundhog Job Shadow Day 2009 will be focused on careers in the technical area, such as automotive technology, allied health, nursing, manufacturing, engineering graphics & design, law enforcement, business and industrial technology.  Tech Prep staff will start recruiting businesses for GJSD 2009 in early November.  Watch your e-mail and snail mail!

The Partnership makes various professional development opportunities available to educators because we know that sometimes the best classroom isn't a classroom at all. By touring educators through a work-related environment, we expose them to an opportunity to observe the very skills they have been teaching their students-communication, interpersonal, and technical skills just to name a few. Educators learn from businesses what work skills students need to succeed. When students need real answers, educators are better prepared to respond with real examples and spark "real world" discussions in the classroom.

Educators Empowered and Enlightened Through Industry Tours

Regional educators and counselors from 12 high schools and South Plains College joined Tech Prep staff on May 2 for the 2006 Educators in Industry Tour. Stops included X-Fab Texas, an electronic wafer fabrication facility; the City of Lubbock offices; University Medical Center's new Heart Center; and, TTU's Health Sciences Center. We were also privileged to host Polly Vann, President and Owner of V-Tech Environmental Services, as our key note luncheon speaker. Polly and her employees were contracted by the government to secure debris from the most recent Space Shuttle disaster, and were deployed to Louisiana in October and November of 2005 for Hurricane Katrina clean-up and restoration. Her poignant presentation gave us much hope for revitalization of the New Orleans area and the people who live there.

Participants had a full day of interacting with some of Lubbock's top employers, learning more about employee qualifications, education requirements, and what educators can do to better prepare students for the business environment. Each came away more aware of the challenges imposed on business by not having a trained workforce, and empowered in their role to better educate their students. Thanks to everyone who made this day such a success!

Educators' Comments:

"I learned the importance of motivating our young people to concentrate more on math and science. I also learned that employers are experiencing difficulties with young people's work ethic."

"I learned that your background may not, and probably does not, always determine your present position. So what does? Work ethic, continuing education, persistence, determination, and passion!"

"I learned what opportunities are available for our students, and that there are so many jobs out there for all levels of education."

"Actually being able to refer to a specific job in Lubbock will make my lessons more credible."