By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
This year’s seniors already have some kind of plan in place once they graduate in the next month, but for the junior class, the planning is just beginning.
That was why the Crawford County Education and Economic Development Partnership hosted Community Connectors Grant Junior Day, an event for high school juniors from Buckeye Central, Bucyrus, Colonel Crawford, Crestline, Galion, and Wynford to find out the career opportunities available in the county. The event was held Thursday at the Camp Millard Ag and Expo Building on the Crawford County Fairgrounds.
“There’s a misperception in our community that there are no jobs. There are hundreds of jobs in almost every different sector in Crawford County,” stressed Steve Mohr, Community Connectors Project Coordinator. “We’re just trying to let our kids know.”
Mohr had no problem with students spreading their wings after graduation, but if there are students that want to stay around, Mohr and local businesses wanted to make them aware of the chances available to them.
“If they do leave, maybe they want to come back at some time because there are opportunities here,” said an ever-hopeful Mohr.
The day featured multi-media presentations and testimonial speakers. Representatives from Bucyrus Rail Car, Galion LLC, Hord Family Farms, J&F Construction, North Central State College, OhioMeansJobs Crawford County, Ohio Mutual Insurance Group, and Spherion were on hand to speak to students.
Hannah Jacobs, a senior communications specialist with Ohio Mutual, talked about the chance to connect with the students.
“This is a really great opportunity for us to get to actually talk to students in Crawford County about not only opportunities that exist in insurance because that’s obviously something we want to share,” Jacobs said, explaining the talent gap that exists in her industry in terms of recruiting and attracting young people.
“There are more career paths in insurance than people think,” Jacobs added. “There’s marketing and communications and IT and accounting. There’s just all these different paths. On top of that we want to share what all Crawford County itself has to offer.”
Jacobs freely admitted she was exactly like today’s juniors with no plans on coming back to her home county when she graduated from high school.
“I’ve told plenty of them I remember being 17,” Jacobs said. “When I was 17 I did not plan to come back. It wasn’t on my radar. But I went to school, I did internships and I interned with Crawford: 20/20 Vision. That was the first thing that showed me that there are people here trying to make a difference. I got a really great career opportunity through that internship and it really opened my eyes to what coming back might have to offer.”
She hoped her own experience with returning to Crawford County would connect with the students and show additional paths available to them.
For Buckeye Central junior Gage Dittman the day was an eye opening experience – and a chance to show off his dance moves.
“I think it’s great. It expands the kids’ knowledge for sure,” Dittman said about Junior Day after competing and winning in a dance-off competition with students from rival schools.
“Personally, I don’t want to stay in Crawford County, but I’m debating now,” said Dittman. “I didn’t know that there were this many opportunities for sure.”
Though Dittman still has a year to plan his path and decide if that includes a future in Crawford County, his tentative plans are to attend North Central State College. He currently attends a performing arts school and hopes to be an actor, but has also debated becoming a preacher.
“I want to get a job while I’m in college. Now I have the knowledge of some companies in the local area,” Dittman said.
Junior Day was sponsored by the Crawford County Education and Economic Development Partnership as part of the Community Connectors Grant. Six members of the CU Lead class brought the event back after a four-year hiatus as part of their community project.