INA, Ill. (October 7, 2022) — Rend Lake College recently hosted a career days event to let students from local high schools explore how careers in different fields may look.
More than 500 students from ten area high schools walked the campus to learn about different groups of occupations from the instructors that teach them.
Students were able to explore several groups of career clusters.
Natural Resources / Agriculture
Ag Business, Ag Production, Ag Mechanics, Diesel Technology, Heavy Equipment Technology, Truck Driver Training
Industrial & Engineering Technology
Industrial Electronics & Maintenance, Manufacturing, Machining and Welding Technology)
Arts & Communication
Art, Communications, Visual Communication Design, Music, Speech/English, Theater
Human Services
Cosmetology, Barber, Nail Technology, Esthetics, Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, Elementary & Secondary Education
Business, Management & Technology
Business, Entrepreneurship, Computer Programming, IT Database Specialist, IT Security Specialist, Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Social & Behavioral Science
Criminal Justice, Political Science, History, Geography, Pre-Law, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work
Health Sciences
Medical Coding, Medical Support Specialist, Nursing, Medical Assistant, Personal Care Aide, Pharmacy Tech, Phlebotomy, Radiologic Technology, Veterinary Assistant, EMT Paramedic
STEM
Chemistry, Math, Physics, Life Science, Physical Science, Engineering, Pre-Med, Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Veterinary, Pre-Pharmacy
“Our goal with career days,” said Kristina Shelton, RLC’s Director of the Perkins and Career Technical Education program. “Is to help our area junior and senior high school students explore some different programs to learn more about them. They get the chance to try some hands-on activities, talk to students and instructors, and it also gives them an idea if Rend Lake College may be for them.”
The students came from Mt. Vernon High School, Webber High School, Woodlawn High School, Waltonville High School, Wayne City High School, Hamilton County High School, Benton High School, Thompsonville High School, Sesser-Valier High School, and Pinckneyville High School.
“It was fun watching the students interact,” stated Emily DeForest, RLC’s Career Technical Education Mentor and Success Coach. “The students had fun doing paint pours in the art room. It was cool watching the students interact with the music and theater departments. They were singing and doing improv. I feel the students really enjoyed it.”
“There were plenty of fun demonstrations at the event,” said Faith Blair, Administrative Assistant in RLC’s Arts and Sciences Division. “Melissa McClement Engler was demonstrating an acrylic paint pour and letting the students create their own masterpieces. Jim Beers was showing the difference in drums and rhythms. Dr. Bailey-Smith talked about the importance of communication. Dr. Nyghel Byrd was warming up the group to sing music scales. Tracey Webb showed students how to do improvisations in the theater. The students played freeze while acting. Jennifer Tarantino Linson showed a video and gave a presentation about how exciting a career in graphic arts can be. It was nice to see the kids get involved and participate in all the different areas of arts. Overall, it was a great event. Some students were ready to sign up for classes before they left the event.”
“The event was a fun learning experience for the high school students,” stated Shelton. “We enjoyed having them on campus exploring our different programs.”
If you are interested in learning more about the programs offered at Rend Lake College, you can visit online at rlc.edu, or call 618-437-5321.
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