Business and Industry Tour 2014

I admit I am a little behind in posting. With the wrap up of the co-op semester and all the busy of the Christmas season, we all get a little behind, right? But don’t let that trick you into thinking that VHSA hasn’t been busy! This group has been chugging through the seasons with a fervor that makes one tired just watching. Behind the scenes so much is going on: Geography Bee practice, book clubs, writing clubs, and so much more.

Back in November our high school kids joined the business and industry tour provided by the Scottsbluff-Gering  Chamber of Commerce, Twin Cities Development, The Department of Labor, Western Nebraska Community College, and the Ne. Panhandle AHEC.  This was started “to show rural youth the employment opportunities available in western Nebraska in response to a dwindling labor pool.” Here is a short introduction:

 

The tours this year visited a wide variety of businesses, divided by topic:

Human Services & Education 

i. Scottsbluff Police Dept at Public Service Building
ii. Shelly Thomas (Social Worker/Forensic Interviewer) – Capstone
iii. Linda Mattern Ritz – Education
iv. Panel of Attorneys who have returned home to practice, Lori Armstrong Browning, John Hunzeker

Health Sciences 

i. Heritage Health Care
ii. CAPWYN-Dental Hygiene Program and Public Health
iii. Quick Care
iv. Pharmacy

Skilled & Technical Sciences

 

i. Baker & Associates
ii. Nemnich Auto
iii. WNCC Autotech 
iv. Aulick Industries or Progress Rail

Business, Marketing and Management 

i. Dominoes Pizza – Franchise, small business ownership
ii. Mindy Burbach – Marketing-Platte Valley Companies
iii. Sandy Massey – Human Resources – Platte Valley Companies

Ag, Food and Natural Resources

i. Western Sugar
ii. Victory Hill Farms
iii. Pioneer Animal Clinic
iv. Panhandle Research and Extension Center

Communications/IT Systems 

i. Allo Communications
ii. KNEB
iii. Midwest Theater, Becky McMillan-Independent filmmaker, Justin Lane-Theater set builder, Local Photographer

iv. North Platte NRD – focus on GIS careers, wells monitoring, police mapping, etc.

 

As a parent chaperoning a group of homeschoolers, I was very impressed with the amazing opportunity this provided for kids to think about life after high school. I REALLY enjoyed the tour, and even as a parent I learned a lot about the businesses we have here in the area. The tour really gave my son a practical glimpse at what his chosen field might include. At each location the business owner gave the kids a tour, and answered specific questions, such as: How did I get into this line of work? What kind of training or education is required? How much can a person earn in this field? Half way through the day we were able to have a delicious lunch provided by the organizers. It was a great and FREE opportunity.

I was most surprised by how few homeschool families took advantage of this opportunity. I hope that next year we have even more students participating.

To find out more about this opportunity, read a note from Lyn C. at THIS LINK, or contact her here:

Lyn Carradine :: (308) 633-5009
lyn@valleyhomeschool.org