For Immediate Release

Blackstone Valley Education Foundation holds regional career exploration event

What jobs can a 16 year old hold? Do I need a work permit? How do I fill out those W4 forms, and why do teens have to pay taxes? Where will the jobs of the future be and what skills will they require? What type of training do I need to become an architect, a machinist, a cable technician? How can you combine a love of mathematics and an interest in law enforcement? Are there really careers for someone who loves art? How do I turn my passion into a paid career?

Those were among the many questions pondered by students visiting the Blackstone Valley Regional Career Fair on April 1. Coordinated by the Blackstone Valley Education Foundation, this annual event drew 800 sophomores from nine high schools across the Blackstone Valley.

Northbridge High School is the perennial host for this career exploration activity which brought together hundreds of students and 85 career representatives. Each school has a designated school to career coordinator who facilitates the preparation of students and logistics in their high school.

All students attended an Employability Seminar which offered timely information for students about to search for summer jobs. Education Foundation Executive Director Susan Gately welcomed the students and addressed the eligibility restrictions and requirements for younger working teens. Amy Mosher of the Central Mass Regional Employment Board Career Center provided clear information on the work ethic, personal presentation, and the job application and interview process. Unibank's Christine Prunier, VP and Director of Human Resources, gave detailed information on filling out the hiring paperwork, how to claim exemptions, what each tax is and how it relates to the W4 and take home pay. Chris Foley, Director of Retail Banking at Unibank, presented basic banking information, check cashing, debit cards and fees, and managing income and building savings.

A second expo type venue was coordinated by Mary Lou Anderson, Program Coordinator. All students had the opportunity to talk with the 80 career representatives set up in 16 career clusters in the Field House. Based on the results of their personal interest survey, students were directed to visit the areas where they had the highest interests and talk with these participants about their jobs and other positions in their company, the education and training required for these positions, the various pathways to these jobs, salary ranges, and the outlook for these jobs in the future. Each cluster had several occupations represented to demonstrate the range of opportunities within a given career area.

Students came away armed with practical information to guide them in their employment search as well as in their academic selections and further career exploration, including job shadows and internships.

Career participants repeatedly commented that they wished they had had an opportunity like this when they were in high school. Many have participated for years and look forward to the event.

The Blackstone Valley Education Foundation is a nonprofit 501C3 organization dedicated to leading and supporting education that promotes workforce development and enhances the quality of life in the Blackstone Valley and is supported in part by business leaders and community members, our member school districts and local educators, the Massachusetts Department of Education Connecting Activities Grant, and private and corporate donors.

Please contact Mary Lou Anderson at the Education Foundation for additional information, 508-234-9090, x101 or email mlanderson@blackstonevalley.org

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About the Education Foundation

The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation, Inc. is the not-for-profit umbrella organization for all Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce school-business related activities and cultural programs. Our Mission: To lead and support education that promotes workforce development and enhances the quality of life in the Blackstone Valley.

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About the Chamber

The mission of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce is to promote the economic vitality of the Blackstone Valley and meet the needs of the Chamber's business members, while providing leadership on issues which impact the economy and quality of life in the Valley. The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce serves the eleven towns in the Massachusetts BV Region: Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. For more information on the Chamber please contact administrator@blackstonevalley.org or call 508 234 9090 X101.