11/15/07
Career Fair teaches to focus on career path early
By Eric Goold

ERIC GOOLD/Manning Times

Clarendon County Detention Center Operations Officer Major Frank Kelley, standing at left, instructs students about a career in law enforcement during last Friday’s Career Fair at Manning Junior High School.

The students at Manning Junior High School got a welcome break in their usual routine last Friday morning and learned about future career paths in the process.

School officials put on a Career Fair for the youngsters that taught them about several different jobs. The students were also encouraged to start planning for a professional career early on in their schooling.

“The Career Fair puts a focus on the 16 career clusters that are part of the South Carolina initiative for educational and economic development,” said MJHS principal J. Preston Threatt. “It’s a good way to expose the kids to career options early, and also to encourage them to start thinking about college and what they might want to major in.”

Employers, businesses and professionals from Clarendon County, Sumter and around the state came to give presentations to the students at the Career Fair.

A total of 16 employers gave 30-minute presentations. Students participated in four different sessions, thereby learning about four different career fields.

One of the most popular presentations was put on by the Clarendon County Department of Corrections. Five officers gathered in the room of 8th grade science teacher Luisa Bonnin and discussed several different aspects of a career in law enforcement.

“Where I come from, there are very few chances for children to learn about careers at such an early age,” said Bonnin, who is from the Philippines. “These representatives from the Department of Corrections have put on a very educational presentation. I think the students really enjoyed it.”

Major Frank Kelley, Operations Officer at the Clarendon County Detention Center, led the presentation and got help from the other four officers who came along with him.

The officers talked to the students about the many requirements they’d need to satisfy to enter a career in Corrections. Judging by the large number of questions that they fielded, the officers made quite an impression on the students and created a lot of interest in their profession.

“The thrill it gives me to talk to these kids is that maybe I can encourage some of them to stay in school, if they are thinking about dropping out,” said Kelley. “I like to encourage them to come into a career in law enforcement. Hopefully some of these young people will want to get a job with us in the future. It’s a great career. I love my job!”

That was just one of the presentations that went on throughout the Career Fair.

“I think the whole event has been wonderful,” said MJHS Career Specialist DeRhonda Wells. “Everything is going well and according to schedule. Every classroom has a presenter, and we’ve managed to get representatives of 13 out of the 16 career clusters. That’s important.”

The Career Fair was a good way to provide a valuable educational experience, presented in a fun way.
“I’ve already heard from several of the students and I know they love it,” said Wells. “Our teachers and staff really enjoy it too.”