Students can 'Deal a Card' and find a career
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Cherokee Technology Center students J.W. Owensby, Mercedes Dover and Andre Gregory prepare for Tuesday's Career Quest at Spartanburg Expo Center.

Students could get $500 in tuition help from Spartanburg Community College or win the use of a BMW for a weekend by attending Tuesday's Career Quest event at the Spartanburg Expo Center.

These are among the door prizes scheduled to be given away during the interactive career fair. Additional prizes include a Canon Power Shot digital camera, a set of four Michelin tires and a family four pack of tickets to Hollywild Animal Park's Holiday Lights Safari.

Cherokee, Union and Spartanburg school districts have partnered with Spartanburg Community College

so middle and high school students can speak with area businesses about various careers.

"Students will be able to instantly identify their career preferences through a game called "Deal a Card.' The career clusters are identical to the 16 career clusters identified by the Education Economic Development Act," Cherokee County School to Work coordinator Dee Dee Cleveland said. "The student can then locate the career cluster that matches their preferences and speak one-onone with school counselors, college faculty and area professionals."

Local businesses participating in this year's event include Nestle Frozen Food Company, Freightliner Custom Chassis, Upstate Carolina Medical Center, Blacksburg Police Department and UPS Freight. Area school districts are working together so their students can explore careers as part of the state's school to work efforts.

State law has required high schools to reorganize their academic programs around career clusters. Tenth graders must select a career major that will be the focus of their elective classes while they complete their high school studies.

About 1,000 students from Cherokee, Spartanburg and Union counties attended last year's event. Cleveland said the large number of people in attendance prompted the districts to move the event to Spartanburg Expo Center.

"Last year's event was an overwhelming success with over 50 vendors participating and over 200 education volunteers working," said Cleveland, one of the committee members planning the event. "We have more businesses participating this year. This will give students a chance to learn more about careers that they are interested in. There will be a general information area with staff that can answer questions about financial aid and other college options."