An opportunity to raise awareness to the opportunities in local manufacturing careers let Adult Education and Secondary Education work with Pickaway WORKS for Pickaway Manufacturing Day Oct. 7.
Christy Mills, executive director of Pickaway WORKS, said Pickaway Manufacturing Day was a partnership with the county’s education and business partners to celebrate National Manufacturing Month, observed in October.
More than 90 students and chaperones from all Pickaway County high schools and Pickaway-Ross started the day at Ohio Christian University' Business Innovation Center (OCUBIC) where they boarded buses and headed out on plant tours of DuPont, EG Industries, PPG, Health Care Logistics, Kenworth and MidWest Fabricating
“Students were able to tour these facilities and learn firsthand about in-demand, high paying careers in science, engineering, design, robotics, IT, sales, marketing and research,” Christy said.
Afterward, they returned to the OCUBIC for lunch and a presentation by Carrie Fife, director of Adult Education, and Allen Koker, job-placement coordinator for the high school, spoke with students about opportunities at Pickaway-Ross. Students Zahne Lilly and Jeremiah Hamlin, seniors in the Welding program, spoke to their peers about being on job placement.
“It’s so important, especially with high school seniors, to emphasize how they can continue their career pathway through an Adult Education program,” Carrie said. “Manufacturing plants operate three shifts so going to school while working — where tuition might be reimbursed — is a great way to move ahead in education and the workforce.”
This was the second time the event was offered since 2019, Christy said.