October 6, 2025 • 21 mins
In this special episode of Inside IALR, we take you straight to the floor of the Career ChoICE Youth Expo, a dynamic, hands-on career fair designed for middle and high school students across Southern Virginia. Hear directly from students as they explore everything from virtual reality welding and flight simulators to radiologic technology and forestry. Employers and educators share why this event matters—and how it's helping shape the region’s future workforce. Whether it's a seventh grader dreaming of the presidency or a tenth grader discovering equestrian veterinary medicine, this episode is packed with inspiration, curiosity, and real-world impact.
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves as a regional catalyst for economic transformation in Southern Virginia. Our services, programs and offerings are diverse, impactful and far reaching.
Get updates from IALR on other channels:
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Riley (00:00):
I think it's very important that we're here so um
students of the community canactually see what they're
offered and know that there'soptions that keep them close at
home where they're not having tomove off to a foyer university
and rack up all the student debtand there's something here
close at home.
CalebAyers (00:21):
What's going on, listeners of Inside IALR?
Thanks for being here.
Thanks for taking the time tolisten to our podcast and learn
more about how we're drivingeconomic transformation in
Southern Virginia and beyond.
This is a very differentepisode.
We went boots on the ground atthe Career Choice Youth Expo.
That's a career fair that isnot a traditional career fair.
It is very much focused onmiddle and high school students
(00:44):
and bringing them together for avery uh interactive, fun,
hands-on career fair that's allabout awareness.
You know, those students arenot being hired obviously for
those positions, but it'sregional employers, regional
educational partners andproviders coming in and
providing hands-on displays tomake an impression of kind of
what these industries are, whatthese regional opportunities
(01:06):
are, and give students a goodexposure of what's out there for
them here in Southern Virginia.
So this year it was Wednesday,October 1st, and Thursday,
October 2nd.
We had several thousand middleand high school students.
Uh middle schoolers came onWednesday and high schoolers
came on Thursday, came out tothe Old Dominion Agricultural
Complex and learned about all ofthese career options.
So the students came fromDanville Public Schools,
(01:29):
Pittsylvania County Schools,Martinsville City Schools,
Halifax County Public Schools,Henry County Public Schools,
Patrick County Public Schools.
So it's definitely a good mixof students as well as employers
from across Southern Virginiawith within that footprint as
well as the surrounding areas aswell.
It's such a fun energy at thisevent.
So I've been involved for fouror five years just going out and
(01:50):
you know taking pictures andvideos and and those types of
things, but just seeing theenergy that these students have
as well as the the peoplerunning the booths, you know,
the the energy that they haveand excitement they have to show
off what their industry is allabout, to show off with the
types of career opportunitiesthat they can provide, to share
that knowledge and informationwith students and to make it
engaging so that these studentscan can buy in and see see the
(02:14):
great opportunities that arethere.
And on the flip side, seeingthe students.
I mean, they're so excited totry these different things.
We're talking about virtualreality welding, we're talking
about a simulator for heavyequipment operator that students
get to sit in and actuallybounces around like they're
driving in the bulldozer, orthere's flight simulators,
there's hands-only CPRdemonstrations, you know,
(02:35):
there's all types of things forstudents to get to try, to
experience that they'llremember.
These aren't things that youknow, students can read about
careers in books all day long,but it the more that you can
give them opportunities to trythings, to interact with things,
the more it's gonna make animpression, the more they're
gonna remember it, the more theymay be interested in it.
And the goal is obviously toothat you know, if students
realize they're not interestedin something, that's just as
(02:56):
good as if they realize they areinterested.
And as long as they're gettingthat experience, getting to try
it for themselves.
So this podcast is just aseries of interviews from
students, from employers on theground at this event.
I want to shout out SavannahCallahan, our intern, who
actually conducted theseinterviews.
And as always, a special thanksto our producer, Daniel Dalton,
graphic and multimediaspecialist too.
(03:17):
Always does a great job withthis podcast and making it sound
great.
So without further ado, here weare from the Career Choice
Youth Expo.
Cadence Oakes (03:27):
Ninth grade and my name's Cadence.
I'm in seventh grade and I goto Laurel Park.
SavannahCallahan (03:32):
Do you have any career goals or what you
want to be in a couple of years?
Cadence Oakes (03:35):
I want to be inside a plebotomy in the
healthcare field.
SavannahCallahan (03:38):
So what were some of the displays that stood
out to you today?
Cadence Oakes (03:41):
I like the pharmacy one where you could
count the pills and all of that.
SavannahCallahan (03:45):
What did you learn today?
Cadence Oakes (03:47):
I learned that there's a lot more depth into
like each medical field and likeeverything, so like I could
look a lot farther into it.
SavannahCallahan (03:54):
How did this event change what you think
about your career?
Cadence Oakes (03:57):
I can definitely look into deeper into the
medical field for future jobs.
SavannahCallahan (04:01):
What grade you're in, what school
do you go to?
Tyson Moore (04:02):
Okay.
Um, my name is Tyson and I I'min seventh grade and I go to
Laurel Grove.
SavannahCallahan (04:08):
Do you have any career goals or what do you
want to do when you grow up?
Tyson Moore (04:11):
Um I would like to be an engineer and start a
business with one of my friends.
SavannahCallahan (04:15):
What were some of the displays that you liked
last today?
Tyson Moore (04:18):
Um, I liked one where it taught to you about the
different parts of thesubmarine and how it works so
that it like helped me on whatit's kinda I kind of want to do.
SavannahCallahan (04:26):
Awesome.
And what helped you what didyou learn today?
Tyson Moore (04:30):
Um I learned uh I learned how to land a plane, uh
learned the different parts ofthe submarine, and that yeah,
that was a pretty fun.
SavannahCallahan (04:40):
So how did this event change what you think
about your future careeroptions?
It changed because I wanted touh do specific things in
engineering, but and then itchanged my ideas of what I
wanted to do in engineering, andtypes of engineering.
WesleyCifers (04:56):
I'm Wesley Cifers, Assistant Director of Advanced
Training and Operations with theInstitute for Advanced Learning
and Research.
SavannahCallahan (05:02):
How many years have you been coming to the
Career Choice Expo?
WesleyCifers (05:05):
This is our second year attending the Career
Choice Expo.
Awesome.
SavannahCallahan (05:08):
Tell us about your display.
What are you hoping to showstudents for today?
WesleyCifers (05:12):
Today we're showing students all about
manufacturing.
We have a 3D printer set up.
We also have a virtual realitywelding simulator, and we have
some parts that came off of Cand C machines and 3D printers.
Um really just teachingstudents what manufacturing is
about and see if it's somethingthey may enjoy.
SavannahCallahan (05:28):
And why do you think it's important to share
this with students, your companyand the industry, what's
important about that forstudents to learn?
WesleyCifers (05:34):
For us, it's important to continue these
trades and carry it down to theyounger generations.
Um, it kind of ebbs and flowsof something that's of interest
to students based off of whatthey're seeing in schools and
what they're learning.
Uh so really showing them itcan be fun and also showing some
of the mission behindmanufacturing, um, specifically
with the ATDM program, theopportunities to be able to work
(05:55):
and support Navy.
SavannahCallahan (05:56):
Awesome.
And do you have any successstories from previous students
coming to the Career Fair andthen coming to reach out for
more information?
WesleyCifers (06:02):
I've had students in the past that will reach out
for more info.
I think we actually had two orthree students that signed up
for ATDM because they wanted togo work in shipyards from last
year.
SavannahCallahan (06:11):
Awesome.
Well, great.
Thank you.
Madison Key (06:16):
My name is Madison Key.
I'm in 10th grade and I go toGretna High School.
SavannahCallahan (06:21):
So do you have any career goals or
aspirations?
What would you like to be whenyou grow up?
Madison Key (06:26):
Um I want to be um like a veterinarian for like
horses and farm animals, so likean equestrian veterinarian.
SavannahCallahan (06:33):
Cool.
What were some of the displaysthat stood out to you today?
Madison Key (06:36):
Probably like a lot of the healthcare stuff because
that's more of like what I wantto go into.
I'm not like set onveterinarian because I've always
wanted to be like a pediatricnurse type thing.
Like so a lot of like thenursing stuff.
SavannahCallahan (06:49):
Awesome.
Were there any booths in herethat stood out to you as far as
what you want to do?
And did they help you changethe way that you think about
your career opportunities?
Madison Key (06:58):
I didn't see any for like exactly what I wanted
to do, but I went to a bunch oflike the like healthcare ones,
and like I went to theveterinarian one, and you get to
like hear like the heartbeat onthey brought like a dog or
something like that.
So I'm sure it goes along withwhat I want to do.
SavannahCallahan (07:12):
What is something that you can take away
from the career choice today?
Madison Key (07:15):
Probably like like takeaway like I'm not gonna do.
Um, probably like the likewelding and stuff like that.
Like it's probably not gonna beany of that.
ChristianChildress (07:24):
So my name is Christian Childress and I go
to Gretna High School.
SavannahCallahan (07:28):
Great.
Do you have any career goals oraspirations?
ChristianChildress (07:30):
Um, I'm gonna be a therapist or a
preacher.
SavannahCallahan (07:34):
What were some displays that stood out to you
today in the career?
ChristianChildress (07:36):
Um a police officer.
Like with the motorcycle andstuff, I like that.
SavannahCallahan (07:42):
Gotcha.
Then also like some of themedical stuff, like doing CPR,
like the back of the ambulance.
I like that a lot.
What did you learn today at career choice?
ChristianChildress (07:52):
There's a lot, you know, of things to
choose from and things that likeare fun, but also like you
gotta be careful around stuff.
SavannahCallahan (08:00):
How did this event change what you think
about your future careeropportunities?
ChristianChildress (08:03):
Some of the hands-on learning, and you know,
makes me think like if thosetwo other options don't work
out, I'll always have somethingelse to lean back on.
MeghanPrice (08:12):
My name is Megan.
I'm a clinical instructor withthe Sova School of Health
Professions RadiologicTechnology Program.
SavannahCallahan (08:18):
Awesome.
How many years have you beencoming to the Career
Choice Youth Expo?
MeghanPrice (08:22):
So we've been coming for years.
Um we usually come every yearand try to share with the
community what it is that we doand what we have to offer.
SavannahCallahan (08:28):
A nd why do you think it's important that
you're with this here set uptoday?
MeghanPrice (08:31):
So I think it's important for the community to
know what they can do right herein Danville and that we do have
options and in two years theycan have an associate's degree
and they can begin umentry-level work in radiography.
SavannahCallahan (08:43):
Awesome.
What in your display are youtrying to show students?
What all did y'all bring withyou today?
MeghanPrice (08:48):
So we brought um three different stations.
We have one station that showsdifferent bones on the table,
and some of them are actuallyreal.
And then we show radiographsthat have those bones, and then
the students are able to look atthe radiograph and then find
the matching bone.
Um, we have another PowerPointthat demonstrates like foreign
bodies in the patient's hands,maybe, or their feet, and just
some different things, maybejewelry, some stuff that we see
(09:09):
inside of patients' bodies.
Um, and then we have anotherstation that has the different
organs, and then we've got SLAM,which is our skeleton.
SavannahCallahan (09:16):
Awesome.
And do you have any successstories from coming to the
Career Choice Expo?
MeghanPrice (09:21):
Yes, so we have lots of success stories.
So we have had several studentsthat have came through here
that end up coming into ourprogram or end up coming and
getting information from us.
So anybody that we can getenrolled is always a huge
success for us.
Riley (09:33):
My name's Riley, and I'm a cardiovascular sonography
student with the Sova School ofHealth Professions.
SavannahCallahan (09:38):
How many years have you been coming to the
Career Choice?
Riley (09:40):
This is my first year as being a student with them, but I
remember being a student inmiddle school and high school
and getting to come every yearand see all the career expo
setups.
SavannahCallahan (09:48):
Why do you think it's important that you
guys are here to set up for theCareer Choice Expo?
Riley (09:52):
I think it's very important that we're here so
students of the community canactually see what they're
offered and know that there'soptions that keep them close at
home where they're not having tomove off to a four year
university and rack up all thestudent debt and there's
something here close at homethat pays good, make good money,
and it only takes about threeyears to complete in total.
SavannahCallahan (10:08):
Tell us about your display and what are you
trying to show the studentstoday.
So for our display, we have thecardiovascular students and our
general students together.
So our cardiovascular studentsare just kind of explaining
ultrasound and telling themabout the anatomy of the heart
on ultrasound as it looks somuch different.
And then our general studentsare actually getting to have a
phantom probe is what we callit.
It's like a practice probe anda little pregnant belly.
(10:30):
It's like a fake one, ofcourse.
And the students are actuallygonna get to scan, so they're
actually getting to see um ababy inside the stomach and what
it looks like on ultrasound.
Awesome.
So you talked about coming hereas a kid, so would you say that
you are a success storyyourself?
Riley (10:42):
I would definitely say that I remember coming here when
I was little, and I don't thinkthe sonography program was
established yet, but I rememberseeing the Sova School of Health
Professions here with theradiology program.
So that kind of allowed me toknow that there's is options in
the community.
So then when I grew up, I wasable to look into the options
and know they're here and pickwhat I wanted to do.
SavannahCallahan (11:02):
Can you please say your name and information?
Kateri Nixon (11:05):
Uh my name is Kateri, I'm in seventh grade,
and I go to Sacred Hart CatholicSchool.
SavannahCallahan (11:10):
Do you have any career aspirations?
Kateri Nixon (11:12):
I would like to be the president of the United
States.
Oh, that's awesome.
What were some of the placesthat stood out to you the best?
I liked the one uh stubborn where you could just
cut up on a dummy and that uhstood out to me because um one
day you might need it, and soyou could say to somebody today.
SavannahCallahan (11:32):
What did you learn about Career ChoICE today?
Kateri Nixon (11:35):
There's a lot of things to do here, and you can
find a career that's like to do,and you can learn stuff um
here, and you can find out aboutstuff that you didn't know
existed, and maybe that wouldchange your mind, and um, you
might want to bethat when you grow up.
(11:56):
How did this event change what you think about future career opportunities?
It gave me more job ideas that I never thought
of before, and it give people anopportunity to learn about um
different things and technology.
My name is Asa and I'm in seventh grade and I go to Sacred Hart.
SavannahCallahan (13:21):
What did you learn today at Career ChoICE?
Asa Johnson (13:25):
I learned that there's a whole bunch of
different opportunities anddifferent opportunities that you
might not know about, so I haveto see all the different
things.
JonathanCochrame (13:45):
My name's Jonathan Cochran.
I'm a technologist at BWXT.
SavannahCallahan (13:49):
Awesome.
How many years have you beencoming to the Career Choice
Expo?
JonathanCochrame (13:52):
This is our second year coming.
SavannahCallahan (13:54):
Awesome.
Tell us about your display.
What are you trying to getstudents interested in today?
JonathanCochrame (13:59):
So today we're just bringing awareness to our
company and we're covering QCand machining.
So we're asking the studentsand teaching them a little bit
about machining and then havingthem answer some questions and
engage in it.
But the biggest thing is alsotelling them about all the
career opportunities that wehave up there.
SavannahCallahan (14:15):
Gotcha.
And what do you think that'simportant for students?
JonathanCochrame (14:17):
It's important because right now it's
important for them, especiallythe ages that are coming through
for them to start thinkingabout what they want to do in
life.
So whatever we can bring tothem to get them thinking about
it, because they got to startthinking about their future.
SavannahCallahan (14:29):
Awesome.
DrewArnn (14:33):
My name is Drew Arnn.
I'm a forester with theVirginia Department of Forestry.
SavannahCallahan (14:38):
How many years have you been coming to the
Career Choice Youth Expo?
DrewArnn (14:40):
Uh we were trying to figure that out.
I it's been since the firstyear.
I don't know how many yearsthey've been doing it.
Okay.
SavannahCallahan (14:46):
Awesome.
Tell us a little bit about yourdisplay.
What are you trying to showstudents?
DrewArnn (14:51):
Uh we just try to show uh we one, we have some
pictures of different careersthat are in forestry.
Um, you know, different avenuesthat you could go into.
I mean, anything from uhwildland firefighter and a
logger, you know, probably lesseducation needed for that.
I mean, it would be nice totake some business classes if
you're a logger.
But the the firefighter stuffis mostly in-house type stuff
(15:14):
and training.
Certain, you know, to qualifyfor this, to qualify for that,
you take a special class forthat specifically.
But then, like if you're inresearch, I mean it's more of a
doctorate degree, that kind ofthing.
Um my position is more of whatyou'd call an agency forester.
So um I work for the VirginiaDepartment of Forestry, so you
(15:35):
know, we work with privatelandowners to help them manage
their forest.
So we basically are workingwith all of these entities.
And we also do the firefightingpart.
SavannahCallahan (15:43):
So awesome.
And why do you think this isimportant to show kids and
students that come here today?
DrewArnn (15:50):
Um, I mean, forestry is really, I think, the number
three industry in the state ofVirginia.
Um, if you look at value added,because everything requires
trucking, you know, products,you that that includes your
sawmills and all your woodproducts and all that kind of
stuff.
And in and especially in thispart of Virginia, uh, you're
looking at kind of James RiverSouth, uh in the Piedmont area,
(16:14):
that we'd call this kind of thewood basket of Virginia.
So forestry is a really majorindustry here locally.
SavannahCallahan (16:21):
Cool.
Uh uh do you have any successstories from the past career
toys exposed?
DrewArnn (16:26):
Um, I mean, we talked to a lot of kids that that uh
seem interested.
Uh some of them that kind ofknow they're gonna go into the
family business of logging orsomething like that.
Uh today and yesterday Iactually talked to quite a few
whose uh family was in more ofthe arborist part, so they were
(16:46):
they did tree care, uh, which ismore of an urban setting, like
yard trees and things like that.
So uh they they will probablyend up in that business and they
seem kind of excited about thattoo.
So um there's really no way toquantitatively know you know if
anybody went to forestry schoolor went to do this or that after
(17:09):
the fact, so I really don'tknow.
The Virginia Department ofForestry only has uh I'd say 250
employees for the state, so wedon't hire that many.
Um there's you know a couplepeople uh maybe in per county,
you know, depending on where youare in the state.
So it's just we don't we don'twe employ a fair amount of
people, but it's not you knownothing like some of the major
(17:30):
industries.
ClarisseTan (17:34):
Hi, I'm Clarrisse Tan from Arkema.
I'm a process engineer.
KaylaRoman (17:38):
Hi, I'm Kayla Roman, uh also with Arkema, and I am
also a process engineer.
SavannahCallahan (17:43):
How many years have you been coming to the
Career Choice Youth Expo?
KaylaRoman (17:46):
So this is our first year here.
We're really, really excited.
SavannahCallahan (17:50):
Tell us about your display and what are you
trying to show students today?
KaylaRoman (17:53):
Uh sure, our display today, uh I can move out of the
way here, has uh 3D printedresins.
Um and so one of the mainproducts that Arkema makes uh is
this resin that goes into uhthe dental applications, and so
we're just trying to showstudents the real world um
technology that science andengineering can have.
SavannahCallahan (18:10):
Alright.
So why do you think this isimportant to share with the
middle school and high schoolstudents that came here today?
ClarisseTan (18:16):
I think it's good for us to show them what things
are being applied in real life,what kind of technologies we
have nowadays, because thingsare changing very quickly,
everything is being developedvery rapidly.
So it's good to have them comein here, get the exposure of
what's really happening outthere.
SavannahCallahan (18:35):
So I said you know you said this was your
first year, so you don't reallyhave any success stories, but do
you feel kind of positive aboutsome of the influences that you
led on kids today?
KaylaRoman (18:44):
I think so.
I mean it's just happy, you'relike good for me to see them
happy, right?
They come to our table smiling,wanting to learn.
Uh, we show them our hands-ondemo and they think it's
extremely cool.
Uh I know Clarice, youmentioned yesterday people were
changing their mind about careerchoice opportunities that they
had in mind when they came hereand then stopped at our table.
Do you want to touch on thatsome more?
ClarisseTan (19:02):
Yeah, so there's this kid that she was really
excited seeing what we havehere, and as she tried our
hands-on activity here, she'slike, wow, this really changed
my mind.
I was gonna be a lawyer, butnow I need to reconsider.
So that's that was powerful, Ifeel.
CalebAyers (19:22):
It's really great to hear all these personal stories
from these students, from theseemployers about their
experiences at career choice,obviously for the students, you
know, hearing more of theircareer aspirations and career
goals and how this event wasable to influence their
thoughts, their ideas, theirawareness of what's even out
there.
And then for these employers tojust to hear their, you know,
desire to contribute to youngpeople in the community to share
(19:45):
the opportunities that are outthere, to share the
opportunities that they providefor this region.
Um, again, this is just a greatevent.
And I mean, over the past 12years of this event, tens of
thousands of students have comethrough Career Choice at this
point, with several thousandevery year.
Uh it's it's tens and tens ofthousands of students who have
come through the Career ChoiceExpo.
And what a great way tocontribute to the community to
(20:08):
um show students that they canstay in the region, that they
don't have to go somewhere elseto find a great job.
Here at the Institute forAdvanced Learning and Research,
we're very committed to sort ofcreating pipelines of students
and talent and ensuring thatstudents are aware of these
industries, of these careeropportunities in the region.
Uh, and a major part of that isthe Career Choice Expo, as well
(20:30):
as programs like GoTech, whichwe run in Virginia Middle
Schools.
Uh we want to close with anacknowledgement and thank you to
the career choice sponsors whomake this event possible.
So our platinum sponsors areSova Health, the JT Mini Mod
Foundation, the CommunityFoundation of the Dan River
Region, the Institute forAdvanced Learning and Research,
and PATHS.
Our gold sponsors are Hitachi,the City of Danville, the
(20:53):
Southern Virginia HigherEducation Center, and the Old
Dominion Agricultural Complex,which hosts the event every
year.
Thanks, and we'll see you nexttime on Inside IALR.
I think it's very important that we're here so um
students of the community canactually see what they're
offered and know that there'soptions that keep them close at
home where they're not having tomove off to a foyer university
and rack up all the student debtand there's something here
close at home.
CalebAyers (00:21):
What's going on, listeners of Inside IALR?
Thanks for being here.
Thanks for taking the time tolisten to our podcast and learn
more about how we're drivingeconomic transformation in
Southern Virginia and beyond.
This is a very differentepisode.
We went boots on the ground atthe Career Choice Youth Expo.
That's a career fair that isnot a traditional career fair.
It is very much focused onmiddle and high school students
(00:44):
and bringing them together for avery uh interactive, fun,
hands-on career fair that's allabout awareness.
You know, those students arenot being hired obviously for
those positions, but it'sregional employers, regional
educational partners andproviders coming in and
providing hands-on displays tomake an impression of kind of
what these industries are, whatthese regional opportunities
(01:06):
are, and give students a goodexposure of what's out there for
them here in Southern Virginia.
So this year it was Wednesday,October 1st, and Thursday,
October 2nd.
We had several thousand middleand high school students.
Uh middle schoolers came onWednesday and high schoolers
came on Thursday, came out tothe Old Dominion Agricultural
Complex and learned about all ofthese career options.
So the students came fromDanville Public Schools,
(01:29):
Pittsylvania County Schools,Martinsville City Schools,
Halifax County Public Schools,Henry County Public Schools,
Patrick County Public Schools.
So it's definitely a good mixof students as well as employers
from across Southern Virginiawith within that footprint as
well as the surrounding areas aswell.
It's such a fun energy at thisevent.
So I've been involved for fouror five years just going out and
(01:50):
you know taking pictures andvideos and and those types of
things, but just seeing theenergy that these students have
as well as the the peoplerunning the booths, you know,
the the energy that they haveand excitement they have to show
off what their industry is allabout, to show off with the
types of career opportunitiesthat they can provide, to share
that knowledge and informationwith students and to make it
engaging so that these studentscan can buy in and see see the
(02:14):
great opportunities that arethere.
And on the flip side, seeingthe students.
I mean, they're so excited totry these different things.
We're talking about virtualreality welding, we're talking
about a simulator for heavyequipment operator that students
get to sit in and actuallybounces around like they're
driving in the bulldozer, orthere's flight simulators,
there's hands-only CPRdemonstrations, you know,
(02:35):
there's all types of things forstudents to get to try, to
experience that they'llremember.
These aren't things that youknow, students can read about
careers in books all day long,but it the more that you can
give them opportunities to trythings, to interact with things,
the more it's gonna make animpression, the more they're
gonna remember it, the more theymay be interested in it.
And the goal is obviously toothat you know, if students
realize they're not interestedin something, that's just as
(02:56):
good as if they realize they areinterested.
And as long as they're gettingthat experience, getting to try
it for themselves.
So this podcast is just aseries of interviews from
students, from employers on theground at this event.
I want to shout out SavannahCallahan, our intern, who
actually conducted theseinterviews.
And as always, a special thanksto our producer, Daniel Dalton,
graphic and multimediaspecialist too.
(03:17):
Always does a great job withthis podcast and making it sound
great.
So without further ado, here weare from the Career Choice
Youth Expo.
Cadence Oakes (03:27):
Ninth grade and my name's Cadence.
I'm in seventh grade and I goto Laurel Park.
SavannahCallahan (03:32):
Do you have any career goals or what you
want to be in a couple of years?
Cadence Oakes (03:35):
I want to be inside a plebotomy in the
healthcare field.
SavannahCallahan (03:38):
So what were some of the displays that stood
out to you today?
Cadence Oakes (03:41):
I like the pharmacy one where you could
count the pills and all of that.
SavannahCallahan (03:45):
What did you learn today?
Cadence Oakes (03:47):
I learned that there's a lot more depth into
like each medical field and likeeverything, so like I could
look a lot farther into it.
SavannahCallahan (03:54):
How did this event change what you think
about your career?
Cadence Oakes (03:57):
I can definitely look into deeper into the
medical field for future jobs.
SavannahCallahan (04:01):
What grade you're in, what school
do you go to?
Tyson Moore (04:02):
Okay.
Um, my name is Tyson and I I'min seventh grade and I go to
Laurel Grove.
SavannahCallahan (04:08):
Do you have any career goals or what do you
want to do when you grow up?
Tyson Moore (04:11):
Um I would like to be an engineer and start a
business with one of my friends.
SavannahCallahan (04:15):
What were some of the displays that you liked
last today?
Tyson Moore (04:18):
Um, I liked one where it taught to you about the
different parts of thesubmarine and how it works so
that it like helped me on whatit's kinda I kind of want to do.
SavannahCallahan (04:26):
Awesome.
And what helped you what didyou learn today?
Tyson Moore (04:30):
Um I learned uh I learned how to land a plane, uh
learned the different parts ofthe submarine, and that yeah,
that was a pretty fun.
SavannahCallahan (04:40):
So how did this event change what you think
about your future careeroptions?
It changed because I wanted touh do specific things in
engineering, but and then itchanged my ideas of what I
wanted to do in engineering, andtypes of engineering.
WesleyCifers (04:56):
I'm Wesley Cifers, Assistant Director of Advanced
Training and Operations with theInstitute for Advanced Learning
and Research.
SavannahCallahan (05:02):
How many years have you been coming to the
Career Choice Expo?
WesleyCifers (05:05):
This is our second year attending the Career
Choice Expo.
Awesome.
SavannahCallahan (05:08):
Tell us about your display.
What are you hoping to showstudents for today?
WesleyCifers (05:12):
Today we're showing students all about
manufacturing.
We have a 3D printer set up.
We also have a virtual realitywelding simulator, and we have
some parts that came off of Cand C machines and 3D printers.
Um really just teachingstudents what manufacturing is
about and see if it's somethingthey may enjoy.
SavannahCallahan (05:28):
And why do you think it's important to share
this with students, your companyand the industry, what's
important about that forstudents to learn?
WesleyCifers (05:34):
For us, it's important to continue these
trades and carry it down to theyounger generations.
Um, it kind of ebbs and flowsof something that's of interest
to students based off of whatthey're seeing in schools and
what they're learning.
Uh so really showing them itcan be fun and also showing some
of the mission behindmanufacturing, um, specifically
with the ATDM program, theopportunities to be able to work
(05:55):
and support Navy.
SavannahCallahan (05:56):
Awesome.
And do you have any successstories from previous students
coming to the Career Fair andthen coming to reach out for
more information?
WesleyCifers (06:02):
I've had students in the past that will reach out
for more info.
I think we actually had two orthree students that signed up
for ATDM because they wanted togo work in shipyards from last
year.
SavannahCallahan (06:11):
Awesome.
Well, great.
Thank you.
Madison Key (06:16):
My name is Madison Key.
I'm in 10th grade and I go toGretna High School.
SavannahCallahan (06:21):
So do you have any career goals or
aspirations?
What would you like to be whenyou grow up?
Madison Key (06:26):
Um I want to be um like a veterinarian for like
horses and farm animals, so likean equestrian veterinarian.
SavannahCallahan (06:33):
Cool.
What were some of the displaysthat stood out to you today?
Madison Key (06:36):
Probably like a lot of the healthcare stuff because
that's more of like what I wantto go into.
I'm not like set onveterinarian because I've always
wanted to be like a pediatricnurse type thing.
Like so a lot of like thenursing stuff.
SavannahCallahan (06:49):
Awesome.
Were there any booths in herethat stood out to you as far as
what you want to do?
And did they help you changethe way that you think about
your career opportunities?
Madison Key (06:58):
I didn't see any for like exactly what I wanted
to do, but I went to a bunch oflike the like healthcare ones,
and like I went to theveterinarian one, and you get to
like hear like the heartbeat onthey brought like a dog or
something like that.
So I'm sure it goes along withwhat I want to do.
SavannahCallahan (07:12):
What is something that you can take away
from the career choice today?
Madison Key (07:15):
Probably like like takeaway like I'm not gonna do.
Um, probably like the likewelding and stuff like that.
Like it's probably not gonna beany of that.
ChristianChildress (07:24):
So my name is Christian Childress and I go
to Gretna High School.
SavannahCallahan (07:28):
Great.
Do you have any career goals oraspirations?
ChristianChildress (07:30):
Um, I'm gonna be a therapist or a
preacher.
SavannahCallahan (07:34):
What were some displays that stood out to you
today in the career?
ChristianChildress (07:36):
Um a police officer.
Like with the motorcycle andstuff, I like that.
SavannahCallahan (07:42):
Gotcha.
Then also like some of themedical stuff, like doing CPR,
like the back of the ambulance.
I like that a lot.
What did you learn today at career choice?
ChristianChildress (07:52):
There's a lot, you know, of things to
choose from and things that likeare fun, but also like you
gotta be careful around stuff.
SavannahCallahan (08:00):
How did this event change what you think
about your future careeropportunities?
ChristianChildress (08:03):
Some of the hands-on learning, and you know,
makes me think like if thosetwo other options don't work
out, I'll always have somethingelse to lean back on.
MeghanPrice (08:12):
My name is Megan.
I'm a clinical instructor withthe Sova School of Health
Professions RadiologicTechnology Program.
SavannahCallahan (08:18):
Awesome.
How many years have you beencoming to the Career
Choice Youth Expo?
MeghanPrice (08:22):
So we've been coming for years.
Um we usually come every yearand try to share with the
community what it is that we doand what we have to offer.
SavannahCallahan (08:28):
A nd why do you think it's important that
you're with this here set uptoday?
MeghanPrice (08:31):
So I think it's important for the community to
know what they can do right herein Danville and that we do have
options and in two years theycan have an associate's degree
and they can begin umentry-level work in radiography.
SavannahCallahan (08:43):
Awesome.
What in your display are youtrying to show students?
What all did y'all bring withyou today?
MeghanPrice (08:48):
So we brought um three different stations.
We have one station that showsdifferent bones on the table,
and some of them are actuallyreal.
And then we show radiographsthat have those bones, and then
the students are able to look atthe radiograph and then find
the matching bone.
Um, we have another PowerPointthat demonstrates like foreign
bodies in the patient's hands,maybe, or their feet, and just
some different things, maybejewelry, some stuff that we see
(09:09):
inside of patients' bodies.
Um, and then we have anotherstation that has the different
organs, and then we've got SLAM,which is our skeleton.
SavannahCallahan (09:16):
Awesome.
And do you have any successstories from coming to the
Career Choice Expo?
MeghanPrice (09:21):
Yes, so we have lots of success stories.
So we have had several studentsthat have came through here
that end up coming into ourprogram or end up coming and
getting information from us.
So anybody that we can getenrolled is always a huge
success for us.
Riley (09:33):
My name's Riley, and I'm a cardiovascular sonography
student with the Sova School ofHealth Professions.
SavannahCallahan (09:38):
How many years have you been coming to the
Career Choice?
Riley (09:40):
This is my first year as being a student with them, but I
remember being a student inmiddle school and high school
and getting to come every yearand see all the career expo
setups.
SavannahCallahan (09:48):
Why do you think it's important that you
guys are here to set up for theCareer Choice Expo?
Riley (09:52):
I think it's very important that we're here so
students of the community canactually see what they're
offered and know that there'soptions that keep them close at
home where they're not having tomove off to a four year
university and rack up all thestudent debt and there's
something here close at homethat pays good, make good money,
and it only takes about threeyears to complete in total.
SavannahCallahan (10:08):
Tell us about your display and what are you
trying to show the studentstoday.
So for our display, we have thecardiovascular students and our
general students together.
So our cardiovascular studentsare just kind of explaining
ultrasound and telling themabout the anatomy of the heart
on ultrasound as it looks somuch different.
And then our general studentsare actually getting to have a
phantom probe is what we callit.
It's like a practice probe anda little pregnant belly.
(10:30):
It's like a fake one, ofcourse.
And the students are actuallygonna get to scan, so they're
actually getting to see um ababy inside the stomach and what
it looks like on ultrasound.
Awesome.
So you talked about coming hereas a kid, so would you say that
you are a success storyyourself?
Riley (10:42):
I would definitely say that I remember coming here when
I was little, and I don't thinkthe sonography program was
established yet, but I rememberseeing the Sova School of Health
Professions here with theradiology program.
So that kind of allowed me toknow that there's is options in
the community.
So then when I grew up, I wasable to look into the options
and know they're here and pickwhat I wanted to do.
SavannahCallahan (11:02):
Can you please say your name and information?
Kateri Nixon (11:05):
Uh my name is Kateri, I'm in seventh grade,
and I go to Sacred Hart CatholicSchool.
SavannahCallahan (11:10):
Do you have any career aspirations?
Kateri Nixon (11:12):
I would like to be the president of the United
States.
Oh, that's awesome.
What were some of the placesthat stood out to you the best?
I liked the one uh stubborn where you could just
cut up on a dummy and that uhstood out to me because um one
day you might need it, and soyou could say to somebody today.
SavannahCallahan (11:32):
What did you learn about Career ChoICE today?
Kateri Nixon (11:35):
There's a lot of things to do here, and you can
find a career that's like to do,and you can learn stuff um
here, and you can find out aboutstuff that you didn't know
existed, and maybe that wouldchange your mind, and um, you
might want to bethat when you grow up.
(11:56):
How did this event change what you think about future career opportunities?
It gave me more job ideas that I never thought
of before, and it give people anopportunity to learn about um
different things and technology.
My name is Asa and I'm in seventh grade and I go to Sacred Hart.
SavannahCallahan (13:21):
What did you learn today at Career ChoICE?
Asa Johnson (13:25):
I learned that there's a whole bunch of
different opportunities anddifferent opportunities that you
might not know about, so I haveto see all the different
things.
JonathanCochrame (13:45):
My name's Jonathan Cochran.
I'm a technologist at BWXT.
SavannahCallahan (13:49):
Awesome.
How many years have you beencoming to the Career Choice
Expo?
JonathanCochrame (13:52):
This is our second year coming.
SavannahCallahan (13:54):
Awesome.
Tell us about your display.
What are you trying to getstudents interested in today?
JonathanCochrame (13:59):
So today we're just bringing awareness to our
company and we're covering QCand machining.
So we're asking the studentsand teaching them a little bit
about machining and then havingthem answer some questions and
engage in it.
But the biggest thing is alsotelling them about all the
career opportunities that wehave up there.
SavannahCallahan (14:15):
Gotcha.
And what do you think that'simportant for students?
JonathanCochrame (14:17):
It's important because right now it's
important for them, especiallythe ages that are coming through
for them to start thinkingabout what they want to do in
life.
So whatever we can bring tothem to get them thinking about
it, because they got to startthinking about their future.
SavannahCallahan (14:29):
Awesome.
DrewArnn (14:33):
My name is Drew Arnn.
I'm a forester with theVirginia Department of Forestry.
SavannahCallahan (14:38):
How many years have you been coming to the
Career Choice Youth Expo?
DrewArnn (14:40):
Uh we were trying to figure that out.
I it's been since the firstyear.
I don't know how many yearsthey've been doing it.
Okay.
SavannahCallahan (14:46):
Awesome.
Tell us a little bit about yourdisplay.
What are you trying to showstudents?
DrewArnn (14:51):
Uh we just try to show uh we one, we have some
pictures of different careersthat are in forestry.
Um, you know, different avenuesthat you could go into.
I mean, anything from uhwildland firefighter and a
logger, you know, probably lesseducation needed for that.
I mean, it would be nice totake some business classes if
you're a logger.
But the the firefighter stuffis mostly in-house type stuff
(15:14):
and training.
Certain, you know, to qualifyfor this, to qualify for that,
you take a special class forthat specifically.
But then, like if you're inresearch, I mean it's more of a
doctorate degree, that kind ofthing.
Um my position is more of whatyou'd call an agency forester.
So um I work for the VirginiaDepartment of Forestry, so you
(15:35):
know, we work with privatelandowners to help them manage
their forest.
So we basically are workingwith all of these entities.
And we also do the firefightingpart.
SavannahCallahan (15:43):
So awesome.
And why do you think this isimportant to show kids and
students that come here today?
DrewArnn (15:50):
Um, I mean, forestry is really, I think, the number
three industry in the state ofVirginia.
Um, if you look at value added,because everything requires
trucking, you know, products,you that that includes your
sawmills and all your woodproducts and all that kind of
stuff.
And in and especially in thispart of Virginia, uh, you're
looking at kind of James RiverSouth, uh in the Piedmont area,
(16:14):
that we'd call this kind of thewood basket of Virginia.
So forestry is a really majorindustry here locally.
SavannahCallahan (16:21):
Cool.
Uh uh do you have any successstories from the past career
toys exposed?
DrewArnn (16:26):
Um, I mean, we talked to a lot of kids that that uh
seem interested.
Uh some of them that kind ofknow they're gonna go into the
family business of logging orsomething like that.
Uh today and yesterday Iactually talked to quite a few
whose uh family was in more ofthe arborist part, so they were
(16:46):
they did tree care, uh, which ismore of an urban setting, like
yard trees and things like that.
So uh they they will probablyend up in that business and they
seem kind of excited about thattoo.
So um there's really no way toquantitatively know you know if
anybody went to forestry schoolor went to do this or that after
(17:09):
the fact, so I really don'tknow.
The Virginia Department ofForestry only has uh I'd say 250
employees for the state, so wedon't hire that many.
Um there's you know a couplepeople uh maybe in per county,
you know, depending on where youare in the state.
So it's just we don't we don'twe employ a fair amount of
people, but it's not you knownothing like some of the major
(17:30):
industries.
ClarisseTan (17:34):
Hi, I'm Clarrisse Tan from Arkema.
I'm a process engineer.
KaylaRoman (17:38):
Hi, I'm Kayla Roman, uh also with Arkema, and I am
also a process engineer.
SavannahCallahan (17:43):
How many years have you been coming to the
Career Choice Youth Expo?
KaylaRoman (17:46):
So this is our first year here.
We're really, really excited.
SavannahCallahan (17:50):
Tell us about your display and what are you
trying to show students today?
KaylaRoman (17:53):
Uh sure, our display today, uh I can move out of the
way here, has uh 3D printedresins.
Um and so one of the mainproducts that Arkema makes uh is
this resin that goes into uhthe dental applications, and so
we're just trying to showstudents the real world um
technology that science andengineering can have.
SavannahCallahan (18:10):
Alright.
So why do you think this isimportant to share with the
middle school and high schoolstudents that came here today?
ClarisseTan (18:16):
I think it's good for us to show them what things
are being applied in real life,what kind of technologies we
have nowadays, because thingsare changing very quickly,
everything is being developedvery rapidly.
So it's good to have them comein here, get the exposure of
what's really happening outthere.
SavannahCallahan (18:35):
So I said you know you said this was your
first year, so you don't reallyhave any success stories, but do
you feel kind of positive aboutsome of the influences that you
led on kids today?
KaylaRoman (18:44):
I think so.
I mean it's just happy, you'relike good for me to see them
happy, right?
They come to our table smiling,wanting to learn.
Uh, we show them our hands-ondemo and they think it's
extremely cool.
Uh I know Clarice, youmentioned yesterday people were
changing their mind about careerchoice opportunities that they
had in mind when they came hereand then stopped at our table.
Do you want to touch on thatsome more?
ClarisseTan (19:02):
Yeah, so there's this kid that she was really
excited seeing what we havehere, and as she tried our
hands-on activity here, she'slike, wow, this really changed
my mind.
I was gonna be a lawyer, butnow I need to reconsider.
So that's that was powerful, Ifeel.
CalebAyers (19:22):
It's really great to hear all these personal stories
from these students, from theseemployers about their
experiences at career choice,obviously for the students, you
know, hearing more of theircareer aspirations and career
goals and how this event wasable to influence their
thoughts, their ideas, theirawareness of what's even out
there.
And then for these employers tojust to hear their, you know,
desire to contribute to youngpeople in the community to share
(19:45):
the opportunities that are outthere, to share the
opportunities that they providefor this region.
Um, again, this is just a greatevent.
And I mean, over the past 12years of this event, tens of
thousands of students have comethrough Career Choice at this
point, with several thousandevery year.
Uh it's it's tens and tens ofthousands of students who have
come through the Career ChoiceExpo.
And what a great way tocontribute to the community to
(20:08):
um show students that they canstay in the region, that they
don't have to go somewhere elseto find a great job.
Here at the Institute forAdvanced Learning and Research,
we're very committed to sort ofcreating pipelines of students
and talent and ensuring thatstudents are aware of these
industries, of these careeropportunities in the region.
Uh, and a major part of that isthe Career Choice Expo, as well
(20:30):
as programs like GoTech, whichwe run in Virginia Middle
Schools.
Uh we want to close with anacknowledgement and thank you to
the career choice sponsors whomake this event possible.
So our platinum sponsors areSova Health, the JT Mini Mod
Foundation, the CommunityFoundation of the Dan River
Region, the Institute forAdvanced Learning and Research,
and PATHS.
Our gold sponsors are Hitachi,the City of Danville, the
(20:53):
Southern Virginia HigherEducation Center, and the Old
Dominion Agricultural Complex,which hosts the event every
year.
Thanks, and we'll see you nexttime on Inside IALR.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.