KHS students get glimpse of possible futures

It was a good opportunity for all of us, especially students who didn’t know what they wanted to do. Also all of us could see the different job opportunities that are especially in our area. The Food & Drink session was my favorite.”

Kendra Boatman, KHS sophomore

KEOKUK - Keokuk High School students had the opportunity to explore a multitude of career paths at the KHS Career Expo on March 6. About 100 speakers and recruiters offered a diverse range of career options and connected the students to professionals from various industries.
“It has been enlightening and given me so many options to think about,” Zach Atterberg, KHS Sophomore, said. “I liked the trades one the most.”
Each student chose seven topic sessions out of the 25 available options to participate in a small group and interacted closely with professionals. The options included law, agriculture and conservation, animal care, art, automotive, criminal justice, manufacturing, event planning, finance, design, healthcare, media, technology, utilities/infrastructure, trucking, trades, and many more. Some of the speakers provided hands-on opportunities such as exploring an ambulance, fire truck and they were able to use virtual reality to explore several fields, including trucking and more.
“It was a good opportunity for all of us, especially students who didn’t know what they wanted to do,” Kendra Boatman, sophomore, said. “Also all of us could see the different job opportunities that are especially in our area. The Food & Drink session was my favorite.”
Speakers were from several regional companies, municipalities, and nonprofits, and included the Iowa Judicial Branch, Liberty Utilities, Lee County Conservation, Roquette America, Freeze Dried U.S.A., WGEM, Keokuk Veterinary Hospital, JJ Nichting Company, Joy Painting Restoration, Klingner & Associates, Iowa State Penitentiary, Keokuk Municipal Waterworks, Winegard Company, Climax Molybdenum Co., Quincy Medical Group, Edward Jones, Connection Bank, Lee County Emergency Medical Services, Hoerner YMCA, RePete Candle & Coffee Bar, Blue Umbrella Bakery, Lee County Health Department, Heartland Pathways Counseling, Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, Yuppy Puppy Pet Parlor, Elston Auto Repair, The Hidden Tower, 1884 On the Bluff, Henniges Automotive, Keokuk Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Department, Keokuk Fire Department, AirEvac, and more.
“I think it was a huge success, the kids were excited to talk to the different professionals and showed an interest in several areas,” Jen Roederer, KHS Vice Principal, said. “They started talking about professions that would like to go into and colleges that they would like to attend.”