Business

Wood County Technical Center career fair unites students, businesses

PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Technical Center held a career fair Thursday with about 250 students and over 45 area businesses, organizations and higher learning institutes attending.

Dr. Jason Hughes, director of the WCTC and Caperton Center for Applied Technology, said it was a good experience for students to have a face-to-face conversations with professionals in varies fields and that all of the different presenters were in high demand for the students.

"I think that's important for our students to see," Hughes said. "That they have some choices as they leave high school and make decisions. There's a lot of opportunities."

Some of the businesses, organizations and higher learning institutes in attendance included the aluminum manufacturer Constellium of Ravenswood, Westbrook Health Services, the Marietta Fire Department, the Parkersburg Police Department, Washington State Community College, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, the West Virginia Department of Transportation, the Chemours Company, and others.

"We've seen a lot more students than we anticipated," Community Engagement Leader Sierra Gard from the Chemours Company said. "They've asked a lot of interesting questions and have shown a real interest in their future."

Senior Tre Wilson and junior Caden Kotarski said they both had interest in factory work and that the Chemours Company booth was one of their favorites.

Juniors Kyliey Kerns and Paige Lewis, both in the Medical Skills program, said speaking with WVU Camden Clark Medical Center paramedics Jay Thorn and Zack Chancey opened their eyes to the possibility of becoming paramedics.

Juniors Catelyn Blake and Alli Sims, also in the Medical Skills program at the WCTC, said they were surprised to find the things they are learning in their program could be used in other areas.

"I definitely thought before this that healthcare was just healthcare," Blake said. "But talking to different people, and asking for their advice, they need healthcare people too. The skills we have could be used pretty much anywhere. I like being able to understand that it's not just hospitals, or nursing homes."

"A lot of companies have all these great options for medical skills to be added," Sims said. "Especially with the brands that are creating things that go into medical equipment."

Both students said each representative had their own unique advice and perspective on the workforce in the area.

"I definitely like the advice everyone has given us," Blake said. "Even if they're not medical base programs. I've gotten a lot of good guidance today."

Hughes said it was the students at the WCTC and the Caperton Center for Applied Technology that make both the great places that they are.

"Most of the students here really care about their future and they're here for a reason," Hughes said.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com