Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
MICHAEL MEYER from the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce, speaks to the assembled 11th grade students before they are broken down into small groups Thursday at Gogebic Community College. The chamber has a vested interest in educating local youth about the potential for careers here.
By IAN MINIELLY
Ironwood - Thomas Merton said, "You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope."
Gogebic Community College on Thursday hosted a Campus and Career Exploration Day for area eighth grade and junior students, with possibilities in mind.
Michael Meyer, from the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce, said, "It is in local business interests to make students aware of what jobs are in the area and to make sure they realize they do not need to leave this area to find work. There is plenty of work here."
More than 50 businesses were arrayed on tables in the gymnasium to open the students' eyes to opportunities they were likely unaware of.
The students, from Ontonagon to Hurley, were bussed in for the 10 a.m. start time. It was expected more than 425 students would be in attendance, but Watersmeet was unable to make it at the last minute, which impacted the numbers slightly, according to Brian Haanpaa, of Michigan Works.
The 11th grade students were broken into groups of 10 and received a more focused attention from the collegiate aspects of the fair.
The eighth grade students were given a quick tour of the college, but the main focus with them was on the type of careers available locally, according to Meyer. Right now, there is a shortage of workers in the skilled trades in this area, especially to replace current skilled tradesmen retiring and leaving unfilled positions and businesses.
GCC, the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District, Ironwood Chamber, Michigan Rehabilitation Services and Michigan Works put on the exploration day.
Meyer reiterated, "Kids do not have to leave."
Emily Dickinson said, "The possible's slow fuse is lit by imagination." The hope of GCC's Campus and Career Exploration Day is that the slow fuse in some of the students' minds will be lit by seeing the possible that is open to them locally.
