Area 8th Grade Girls to Investigate Their Future on May 16

05/04/2017

Southeastern Community College’s (SCC) annual Investigate Your Future educational event for 8th grade girls will take place on Tuesday, May 16 on the West Burlington campus. Over 300 girls from school districts across Southeast Iowa will attend.

Investigate Your Future provides interactive, hands-on sessions that expose girls to non-traditional careers. Girls choose the sessions of interest to them.

SCC Work-Based Learning Specialist, Leanne Krogmeier, says participants will learn what it takes to prepare for the workforce, including the education and technical skills required to land their dream job.

“This event allows these girls to meet and interact with professionals who work in technical careers,” explains Krogmeier. “They get to ask questions, hear straight from professionals and take part in some hands on activities related to the careers they’re exploring.”

Research shows that students begin to identify with potential careers while they’re in middle school, making 8th grade a prime time to expose students to future job opportunities.  Girls are also less likely than boys to consider careers in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. 

The event is facilitated by The Link, SCC's outreach program that provides area K12 students with various career exploration opportunities.

Sessions such as “Create Like an Architect,” “Slime Chemistry,” and “Is Healthcare in Your Future,” feature the practical and fun sides of careers that otherwise may seem too intimidating. Many of the classes are taught by female professionals.

“Each year the girls seem to enjoy the experiences and comment how they have learned information about a career area they had not considered before," says Krogmeier.

Krogmeier is always excited to watch the girls learn and grow at the annual event.

“Investigate Your Future continues to expand each year, and counselors are asking me each year if they can bring more students.  I'm interested in seeing several of the presentations myself.”   

For more information about Investigate Your Future, contact Leanne Krogmeier at (319) 208-5053 or lkrogmeier@scciowa.edu

For more news or to learn about Southeastern Community College, visit: https://www.scciowa.edu/rss/news/index.html