VAN WERT, OH – More than 780 eighth graders from 13 local schools got a firsthand look at possible future career pathways during Vantage Career Center’s annual 8th Grade Tours on November 3rd and 4th. Over two action-packed days, students explored 19 career-technical programs through hands-on activities that brought real-world careers to life.
The annual tours introduced students to opportunities in skilled trades, health sciences, business, public safety, and technology. Students from Lincolnview, Continental, Crestview, Delphos St. John’s, Ottoville, Delphos Jefferson, Goedde, Van Wert, Wayne Trace, Fort Jennings, Kalida, Paulding, and Parkway visited Vantage throughout the two days.
Vantage Career Center is incredibly thankful for the continued partnership and collaboration with these schools, whose support helps make these tours possible each year and introduces students to career opportunities at an early age.
Current Vantage students proudly led the tours, sharing their experiences, answering questions, and giving eighth graders a firsthand look at the skills they’ve developed in their programs. Throughout the tours, eighth graders had the chance to get involved and experience career-technical education for themselves. From exploring podcasting equipment in Marketing & Design and sitting inside a police cruiser in Criminal Justice to operating a sander in Carpentry and working to find a cure for a zombie outbreak in Medical Assisting, students enjoyed a variety of hands-on activities that offered a glimpse into the many opportunities available at Vantage.
Students explored all 19 Vantage Career Center programs, including Ag & Industrial Power Technology, Auto Collision Repair, Auto Technology, Carpentry, Construction Equipment Technology, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, Electricity, Health Technology, Machining and Engineering Technologies, Medical Assisting, Industrial Mechanics, Marketing & Design, Network Systems, Sports Exercise Therapy, Transition to Work, and Welding.
Beyond introducing eighth graders to potential career paths, the tours also provided current Vantage students with an opportunity to develop their leadership and communication skills while sharing their passion for their chosen programs.
Tessa Laing, Community Relations Coordinator at Vantage Career Center
“One of the best parts of these tours is watching our current students take pride in showing younger students what they’ve learned and what they’re capable of doing. We want every student who walks through our doors to leave knowing there are so many opportunities ahead of them, and that their future is full of possibilities.”
As the two-day event came to a close, students left with more than just a glimpse inside Vantage’s classrooms and labs. They gained firsthand experiences, discovered new interests, and began making connections between their education and potential future careers.
Vantage Career Center looks forward to continuing to build on these experiences as students progress through high school and begin exploring the many pathways available to them.
For more information about programs and opportunities at Vantage Career Center, visit www.vantagecareercenter.com or follow @VantageCareerCenter on Facebook and Instagram.
