BURGAW, NC –Under the leadership of Dominique Bates, the Pender County Schools Career Technical Education (CTE) Department has partnered with Cape Fear Community College to begin a “Pathway to Careers” program which targets undecided seniors.
An undecided senior is a student who has been identified as not currently having a post-secondary plan. Currently 20 students at each high school in the district have been identified as undecided.
“The ultimate goal of this program is to ensure these students can make an informed post-secondary decision by providing exposure and experiential learning opportunities.” Said CTE Director Dominique Bates. “This program couldn’t happen without the work of CFCC Dean of CTE Mark Council and the school’s career liaisons and recruiters as well as our Career Development Coordinators helping identify the students who are undecided.”
The Pathway to Careers Program will take students on a four-month journey which began in January with the students being identified. Next, students will visit Cape Fear Community College’s Downtown and North Campus in February for an introduction to various programs and take part in hands on activities to gauge interest in various career paths. Industry tours and resume writing sessions will take place in March, followed by mock interviews and a hiring fair at Pender High School in April.
By using Federal Funding (CTE Summer Career Accelerator) students who complete the entire program and earn a job have the opportunity to be paid $15 an hour for up to 120 hours.
WHO – Pender County Schools
WHAT – Pathway to Careers
WHEN – Tuesday, February 21, 2023 | 9am – 2pm
WHERE – Cape Fear Community College Downtown and North Campus
WHY – To experience a day in the top three programs they choose as they travel the Pathway to Careers
