Ridgway Career Cruise Gives 10th-Grade Students a Look at Future Opportunities

The Community Education Center recently hosted the Ridgway Career Cruise on September 23 at several local businesses and organizations, including the 911 Call Center, Dauch, Dickinson Center, Advantage Sales & Supply, and the Ridgway Courthouse. The program provided 13 students from Ms. Schaut’s Career Class with an opportunity to explore local businesses and learn more about potential career opportunities in their community. The program was designed to help students learn more about their options for the future and connect what they are learning in school with real-world opportunities.

During the program, students toured each participating organization and had the opportunity to see careers in action, giving them an inside look at what employees do and what a typical workday can look like. Students interacted with employees in a variety of positions, asked questions, and learned more about the different education, career, and training pathways available to them.

The experience gave students the chance to discover opportunities they may not have previously considered. Students shared that they were surprised by how many different jobs can be found within one company. Another student remarked, “Something that surprised me was the amount of jobs located in my community.” These responses highlight the value of giving students opportunities to ask questions, explore unfamiliar careers, and learn directly from people working in different fields.

The Community Education Center would like to thank all of the participating businesses, organizations, and community partners for their time and support. By bringing students and community partners together, the Ridgway Career Cruise helped students gain a better understanding of the opportunities available to them and encouraged them to begin thinking about their own future goals. This event was coordinated by the Community Education Center’s (CEC) DISCOVER Partnership. Local companies interested in hosting students for future programs are encouraged to contact Alexia Lenze at (814) 781-3437 or alexia@communityedcenter.com.