Students drive past many businesses in the community daily but do not know what types of careers are available behind those walls.

Donna McNeil, career and technical education director with Davie County Schools,  saw an opportunity to change that.

“The Career Expo provides that connection with our local educational community, business community, and higher education,”   she said.

On Thursday, Nov. 5, more than 500 students at Davie High School could visit with representatives from the local  business community and institutions of higher education. Students explored career opportunities  and  linked those careers to educational programs available at The College of Davidson and Davie Counties, UTI, and UNOH.

Landon Lynch and Yowanda Graham-Cortez represented  Davie Medical Center and Wake Forest Baptist Health, sharing a wide range of careers at Davie Medical Center and the medical profession.

DCCC representatives  from the  health, wellness and public safety programs provided information aligning their programs to meet the needs of the medical community. Students could visit  the DCCC Medical Simulation Lab to explore the EMS and other programs.

Carley Eddleman, a senior at Davie High, eagerly shared her success story by representing the esthetics program at DCCC.  Eddleman is dually enrolled through the Career and College Promise program which offers free tuition to high school students meeting program entrance requirements.

Junior volunteer firefighters spent time learning about the fire protection technology program.   

“This is a wonderful opportunity for DCCC to share our programs with high school students,’” said Rose McDaniel, dean of health, wellness, and safety.

Representatives from all program areas at DCCC attended the expo including the college transfer program.

“As workforce opportunities continue to grow and expand in Davie County, businesses look for ways to attract future employees,” McNeill said. “Meeting students at the career expo and sharing information about opportunities is a valuable recruiting tool for tomorrow’s workers.”

Ingersoll Rand and Gesipa USA represented Davie County’s advanced manufacturing business community.

State Employees Credit Union shared information on careers in finance while the House of Raeford provided information about employment opportunities.

Representatives from the Mocksville Police Department,  NC Highway Patrol, Davie County Sheriff’s Department, and the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab discussed careers related to criminal justice.

Students interested in welding and automotive technologies visited mobile labs where they could learn more about educational opportunities.

Assistant principals at Davie High shared information about careers in education.

Janet Barnes and Darla Goldfuss, career development coordinators at Davie High, can provide additional information to students about the Career and College Promise program, internships, and the Ingersoll Rand apprenticeship program.