CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For many high school students getting closer to graduation, their next step is unclear. Some young adults want to get into a career right away.
Over 400 high school juniors and seniors, enrolled in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways program, had the opportunity to learn about job opportunities in the hotel industry.
An inaugural job fair was held Thursday, at the Charlotte Convention Center for CMS' CTE students. Karen Brand, a spokesperson for the event, described the CTE pathways program as a "blend of early career discovery and skill development opportunities through hands-on courses."
Brand said $200,000 in funding was included in the 2021-2022 State Budget for a hospitality employment pilot program in Charlotte. Organizers said that funding will help with an apprenticeship program for high school students interested in a career in the hotel industry.
"We need to rebuild the pipeline and that pipeline starts with our high schoolers," Mary Jo Marasco with the Westin Hotel in Charlotte said.
Students who attended the job fair told WCNC they learned valuable information.
"The pay is great, and they have a lot of benefits. And they have a lot of positions, and it's very diverse," Stephanie Garcia, a senior at Northwest School of the Arts, learned.
"One of the things we see, probably not indicative to Charlotte, but we have a lot of students that graduate and they are not exactly sure what it is they want to do. So being able to have a trade, come through CTE," job fair organizer Dr. Nakesha Dawson said. "That means you're actually getting a skill that you can actually start a career with, and I use 'career' not just 'job' intentionally. Because the kids right here, they can start something that can take them to the next level that they can actually build on."
Dawson said it's exciting to see the students enrolled in the CTE pathways program have eye-opening experiences.
"What I find personally exciting is that I've had students that have said, 'I didn't know NASCAR had engineering,' or, 'I didn't know Spectrum had engineering,'" she said. "So they're just finding out those things that with this degree or with this study in high school, I can actually have these opportunities."
In addition, Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology received $5,000 donation in tools from Northern Tool + Equipment to Support its career and technical education programs.
The donation is part of Northern Tool + Equipment’s Tools for the Trades program, which supports skilled trades programs to help create a path for students’ future trades careers.
WCNC Charlotte is always asking "where's the money?" If you need help, reach out to WCNC Charlotte by emailing money@wcnc.com.
Contact Jane Monreal at jmonreal@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.