Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Jesse Scheller, fourth from left, returns to his alma mater to share with students his experiences in the field of graphic design. The projector used for his presentation casts strange shadows on the faces of those in its glow.
Odessa High School FBLA partnerned with the Lincoln County Econcomic Development Council to address one of Lincoln County's greatest problems, "Youth Out-migration." Students are graduating from our schools and attending college but are not returning for employment. This leaves many positions unfilled or filled by commuters, which is a detriment to our economy. A career fair was hosted last year, and the feedback from students was that they liked the fair but wanted to see the careers in a more realistic environment.
The two organizations decided worked together to plan a "Job Shadow Day" where all students in Lincoln County and Wilson Creek in Grant County were invited to job-shadow three careers of interest. Thanks to the tremendous support of Odessa businesses, Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center and many who traveled from afar, students had the opportunity to select from 30 different career options.
All students met at the high school, then were sent out into the community to learn about three careers of their choice from the following participants: Leffel, Otis & Warwick (accounting/bookkeeping); Wheatland Bank (finance/banking); Carpenter, McGuire & DeWulf (attorney/paralegal); Margie Hall (urban planner); Odessa Grange Supply Co. (ag-application/agronomy); Odessa Trading Co. (heavy equipment mechanics); Ag Tech and Odessa Trading Co. (ag-technology/sales); Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center (X-ray/lab, nursing, EMT, physical therapy); Odessa Drug (pharmacy); Jolene Erickson of the Lincoln County Health Dept. (school nurse); Sandi Smith of Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center (recreation, activities director); Odessa School District staff (elementary and secondary education and counseling); Kelly Watkins of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office (law enforcement); Officer JoLynn Beauchene of the Wash. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (game warden); Bill Dehler (military law/probation officer); Todd Barstad of Wash. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (biologist); Chris Shafer of the Bureau of Land Management (land management); Matt Morkert of Century West Engineering (civil engineer); Jesse Scheller (graphic designer); Chris Costlow of Costlow Services (auto mechanic).
Based on feedback from students, the Job Shadow Day was a huge success thanks to the cooperation of so many professionals willing to share their expertise. Small towns have career opportunities, too, and hopefully some of these students will return to Lincoln County to take advantage of all that is offered here.
Terri King is the business teacher at Odessa High School and the advisor for the school's chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America.
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