BY GAIL M. WILLIAMS
Muleshoe Journal Correspondent
Eighth graders recently took full advantage of an opportunity to explore career options at the first Career Expo presented in Muleshoe by Workforce Solutions.
A total of 224 students from Watson Junior High, Springlake-Earth, Sudan and Farwell attended the event at the Civic Center.
Exhibitors included 26 area employers. Among them were the Department of Public Safety, Park View Nursing Home, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Bailey County Sheriff’s Department, EMS and Western Equipment.
Students were encouraged to sit in an emergency transport vehicle and interact with the sheriff’s deputy, honk the horns and run the siren. They watched a live milk cow demonstration, examined brand new farm equipment saw an exhibit of stuffed wild animals including deer, lynx and bobcat presented by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Sandra Hester of Workforce Solutions and Bailey County Judge Sherri Harrison were present
for a ribbon-cutting ceremony that was part of the first-time event.
Martin Aguirre, CEO of Workforce Solutions in Lubbock, said the board has developed four different expos in centrally located rural cities, bringing the jobs to the students rather than having them travel to Lubbock. The expos are expected to draw 1,000 students region-wide.
“Eighth graders need to make good career choices that will affect what they study during their high school years. It’s the beginning of their preparation for work,” Aguirre said. “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback. It’s so much easier for local employers to come in to the expos.”
Aguirre said towns in the South Plains region need workers in areas such as machine maintenance, irrigation and metalwork.
“We need everyone to participate in the workforce, whether they’re trained through higher education or by learning a skilled trade,” Aguirre said.
An expo for juniors and seniors will be held in Lubbock during October with Darrell Andrews, known as Coach D, kicking off the event.
“Coach D is a professional speaker who sets the stage with a 20-30 minute pep talk,” Aguirre said. “We’ve used him before, and he has a good success record with students.”
Workforce Solutions South Plains is located at 203 South Main, Muleshoe. Call 272-7540.
