Career fair new component of national basketball championship tournament
A career exploration fair provided high school students insight to a breadth of local job opportunities as part of a new component of this year’s United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Basketball tournament at Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus.
The two-day event was hosted by Fay-Penn Economic Development Council and coordinated by members of its Fayette Leaders Academy.
“Our goal is for local high school students to learn about the ways they can have a rewarding career in their own community,” said Bob Shark, Fay-Penn Executive Director.
Participating schools drew a total of 260 students from Connellsville, Connellsville Area Career and Technology Center, Fayette County Career and Technical Institute, Frazier, Uniontown, Geibel and Adelphoi.
As part of the career fair, students were introduced to Penn State’s degree and certificate programs along with the college application process from Gina Jones, career services coordinator, and Rob Tallerico, director of enrollment management.
They also received a flash drive provided by Somerset Trust containing information on assessing interests, job search, education and training opportunities, financial aid, resume writing, interviewing, starting your own business and county resources.
In addition to a tour of the campus, students met with representatives from local companies to hear about employment opportunities, education and training required to obtain available positions, and salaries.
“We had the infrastructure there but thought it would be a great way while the kids are on campus to let them know about the potential job opportunities that exist in Fayette County,” said Justin Teets, branch administrator for Somerset Trust in Connellsville, an academy member.
He said the academy reached out to the local business sector in an effort to show students they don’t have to leave their hometown for good paying jobs.
According to Dan Gearing, president of Specialty Conduit and Manufacturing LLC in Mount Braddock, the career fair provided his company visibility to future workers.
“This is a great opportunity for me to see first-hand how our educational system is preparing local talent to enter our workforce,” said Gearing.
Gearing’s son noted the company currently employs part-time two students from Albert Gallatin School District who attend Fayette County Career and Technical Institute.
Other businesses on hand included Somerset Trust, Tech Eng Solutions, Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau and PTC Product and Service Advantage.
“There’s a lot of companies I didn’t expect to be in Fayette County,” said Nicolas Burgess, a senior at Uniontown.
Burgess said he has been accepted to Waynesburg College and plans to study nursing after graduation.
PTC provided a technology software demonstration to students as Aaron Tuomi, senior director, noted the company has 55 employees and plans to hire 10 more by the end of the year and each year after.
Abbigail Felix, a sophomore at Uniontown, said she learned a lot about the overall college process and hopes to study zoology or marketing after graduation.
According to David Meredith, professor and program chairman for Penn State Building and Environmental Systems Technology, a lot of people are unaware that several of the county’s manufacturers make items that are exported throughout the world.
“If you have the right background it’s amazing the jobs that are here,” he said.
For the past eight years it’s been held in Uniontown, the tournament has created $2.5 million of economic impact in the Laurel Highlands region with support from Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, presenting sponsor, along with LHVB, Penn State, Fayette and individuals and businesses in the surrounding community.
Penn State Fayette has hosted the USCAA Basketball Championships since 2009, when 30 teams competed in one women’s and two men’s divisions.
Since then, the USCAA has added a second women’s division and expanded the event to include 34 of the best small college basketball teams, with four national championships hosted simultaneously.
According to USCAA, nearly 600 participants compete in 39 games over a four-day period making it the largest of 12 national championships the association offers. The championships will continue at Fayette until 2018.
Those interested in joining the Be Local Network can contact Clint Rhodes at 724-439-7518 or by email at crhodes@heraldstandard.com. Discount cards are available at the Herald-Standard, 8 East Church St., Uniontown, and at the Greene County Messenger, 82 West High St., Waynesburg.