All the Things We've Discovered

Students had a year of discovery as they explored career pathway options through our Discover Day series. During the 2022 - 2023 school year, our Discover Day Series included:

• Manufacturing

• Accounting

• Mental Health

• Entrepreneurial Thinking

• Engineering

• Law Enforcement

Each Discover Day was unique. Discover Manufacturing Day was sponsored and hosted by Thermo Fisher and brought students on-site to see what manufacturing looked like in action. Discover Accounting Day was sponsored and hosted by Perry & Associates CPAs and was also held on-site. Perry & Associates staff put together different activities and presentations for the students to engage in during their time there.

Discover Mental Health Day was the final fall event. It was sponsored by the Appalachian Children Coalition and was held at Marietta Memorial Hospital. Professionals from various behavioral health organizations came to talk and do activities with students. The day included counselors, peer supporters, music therapists, and more. 

In the spring, we held Discover Entrepreneurial Thinking Day at the BB2C Epicenter. It was sponsored by Ataraxia Properties, a Washington County business run by three Frontier Local School District graduates. Local business representatives and faculty from local colleges discussed entrepreneurial mindset, small business development, and entrepreneurial characteristics such as risk-taking, failing forward, and being adaptable.

Discover Engineering Day was sponsored by Trane Technologies and Power System Engineering and held at Marietta College. Engineers from all different specializations and backgrounds allowed students to explore engineering from multiple perspectives. Faculty from the college also shared next steps for students interested in going into engineering.

Our final event, Discover Law Enforcement Day, was also our largest. It was sponsored by the Washington County Sheriff's Office and Theisen Brock and had presenters from numerous legal careers. It was held at Washington State Community College.

Two hundred and forty students attended our six Discover Days. They came from public and private school districts in Washington County and neighboring counties, as well as from homeschool. Students had great feedback about how the different Discover Days helped them think about what’s next

It opened my eyes to other careers in the criminal justice field.

[It] helped me talk to someone who’s doing what I want to do.

[It] helped me think about my personal skills.

This helped me make informed decisions about my future career options by expanding my knowledge about where to go (resources I need).

[It] showed me opportunities for careers that I hadn’t considered.

I should take time and really think about what I want to do, and it’s okay if what I want to do changes.

There are so many mental health career fields in our area. Going into this event, I only knew a select few options in our community. After this event, I have been introduced to numerous career opportunities that are local. I have always wanted to work in a mental health profession and now I have a better understanding of the opportunities this field offers.

It helped me determine that this might not be the career for me.

[It] lets me know about work environments in potential job options.

[It] helped me understand that there are a lot more options to engineering than just behind a computer.

Special thanks to all our event sponsors, hosts, and participating businesses & organizations. It is because of these partnerships that we are able to bridge the gap between education and employment. We look forward to their continued involvement in our 2023-2024 Discover Day Series, our 2023 Family Career Awareness Day, and other programs and events. Keep an eye out for upcoming events. Sign up to receive stories and upcoming events.