PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS/THE VILLAGE REPORTER
A PATH FORWARD … Swanton High School juniors Ksenia Velikoglo (center) and Gabbie Orner (left) speak with University of Toledo undergraduate admissions staffer Seth Sorensen (right) during the high school’s biennial 3-E Career Expo.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Swanton High School students spoke to college reps, employers, tradesmen, and military recruiters on their last day before Thanksgiving break as part of the school’s biennial 3-E Career Expo.
Named after the three areas of focus – enrollment, enlistment, and employment – the expo put students of all four grades in a position to think about their future, whether they yet had any concrete plans or not. Further, a “scavenger hunt” forced them to collect answers to questions, some aimed at the people running the booths, some at themselves.
Among the questions were things like “name two facts you learned about enlisting in the military,” “list three skills you need to pursue a career you learned about today,” and “what are the admission requirements for University of Toledo.”
University of Toledo undergraduate admissions representative Seth Sorensen said the interactions he was having with students were going very well.
“I’ve been able to connect with a lot of students and talk about furthering their post-high school education,” Sorensen said.
“They having the preset questions has been really good to help steer the conversation with them about what it is they want to do, and how to go about the college search process, and how admission requirements work, and that sort of thing.”
Sorensen said UT admissions has a “travel season” that kicks off in September and runs to Thanksgiving break, including everything from school events like the one in Swanton to one-on-one meetings with prospective students over coffee.
Human resources rep Emily Johnson and Certified Welding Inspector and Safety Specialist Nick Nijakowski with Swanton Welding and Machine Co. spoke to students on behalf of that business.
Nijakowski said the custom steel fabrication shop, which was opened in 1956 in Swanton, now has about nine buildings on that campus, along with facilities in Wauseon and in Griffin, GA.
“We’ve seen a lot of students come in with some good questions and wanting to get into the skilled trades, so it’s a good thing,” Johnson said.
She said the business works with skilled trade schools throughout the area, and lauded Swanton and the surrounding community for their support for the trades.
“I think a lot of the kids have worked on farms, and they’ve welded little parts on their cars, or on tractors or trailers, so it kind of gets them open to welding and excited about it because they’ve done it.
“So, when we start talking about melting steel and metal, they’re like ‘Oh yeah, I’ve done that,’ or ‘I’ve worked with my grandpa or my dad on it.’”
Swanton Fire and Rescue Division Chief Cuyler Kepling was at a table speaking to students about the field of firefighting and EMS work and options for work at his department.
“People have kind of been caught off guard by the fire department’s work schedule, the training that’s involved in it, realizing that it’s more of a trade versus a college degree program,” Kepling said.
According to Kepling, the department currently has two open slots, which is expected to be down to one after the upcoming Swanton Village Council meeting.
For those interested in pursuing a career in the field, Kepling said the first step would be to reach out to the department for help with the process of getting the necessary certifications.
United States Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Callantine said he is at schools at least three days per week and is building community outreach.
“Each student has been doing really good about talking to us, really expressing actual interest and learning more about the different military branches. It’s been a good day all the way around,” he said. He said enlistment in the Swanton area has been positive and consistent.
Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce President Delray Busch said she was excited that the students were asking such great questions.
“It’s a great community, I’m so excited to see so many aspects of our business community, as well as colleges and enlistment options from our military branches.
“It’s really cool to see all of them work together, be here for the kids – that’s really what it’s all about,” Busch said. Senior student Carsen Lemons said he has enjoyed participating in the expo every chance he has had.
“It’s really nice to see all these places come out, whether it’s construction companies, the military, and all these colleges, to help kids really figure out what their next step is gonna be in the process. Very knowledgeable people they brought here, it’s really nice to have that,” Lemons said.
He said he talked a lot with the spokesperson for The Gerken Companies during the event. “I also talked to Air National Guard. I come from a big military family, so it’s really nice to make connections with other veterans, considering I talk to a lot of them on my own time with family, and they are really understanding.
“They give you a good description of the lifestyle and the process you go through and how things kind of pan out,” Lemons said.
According to Principal Anthony Menna, not only has the size of the event tripled since its last occurrence, with more than 50 groups involved, and only 13 students absent across the entire school that day, despite it being the last day before Thanksgiving break.
“I’m super impressed with the fact that the kids are engaging, and all of these community resources came out today,” Menna said.