Mattoon, IL-(Effingham Radio)- To introduce local students to a variety of career and occupational choices, approximately 2,000 8th grade students will assemble in the Lake Land College Field House on Thursday, March 30 and Friday, March 31 for the 31st annual 8th Grade Career Conference.
Together, Lake Land College and Eastern Illinois Education For Employment System 340 will co-sponsor the annual 8th Grade Career Conference, an event in which more than 60,000 students have participated over the years.
The Career Conference will provide participants career exploration through communication and contact with many local professionals representing sixteen career clusters, or employment fields. Students also have the opportunity to be motivated and enthused by Brooks Harper, author of 7 Skills to Make Mill$ and Why Should We Hire YOU?
“Best practices show us that career exploration must start in middle school,” explains Courtney Conlin, Event Coordinator of Eastern Illinois Education For Employment System 340. “For students who have that opportunity, research shows that students are more likely to graduate college or reach a successful career. We hope by hosting an event like this, that we can connect students with businesses in their local communities.”
“The wonderful thing about this conference is how it benefits everyone. The students have this fun experience to get their career questions answered and local businesses have the early advantage to guide their future talents on the right path. The business partners who participate this year may see these same faces again in interviews six to eight years from now. It’s an exciting and valuable event,” said Jamie Corda Hadjaoui, Director of Workforce Investment/LWIA 23 at Lake Land College.
Students from the following schools will participate in the career conference:
- Beecher City
- Teutopolis Junior High
- Mattoon Middle School
- Martinsville Jr-Sr High School
- Marshall Junior High School
- Crestwood School
- Okaw Valley Middle School
- Cumberland Middle School
- Shiloh Jr High
- Dieterich Jr. Sr. High School
- St. Anthony Grade School
- Stewardson-Strasburg Jr. High
- Mayo Middle School
- Casey-Westfield Jr./Sr. High School
- Arcola Jr. Sr. High School
- Effingham Junior High
- TriStar Academy
- Ramsey Junior High
- Brownstown Jr High
For more information contact Corda Hadjaoui (217) 238-8286 or Conlin at (217) 258-6283.
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