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Feb. 7, 2005
For Immediate Release:
Crossville, TN – February 2nd was National Job Shadowing Day in Cumberland
County and a very exciting day for 14 local students. The Tennessee Career Center
collaborated with Cumberland County High School, City Hall, Cumberland Medical
Center, Good Samaritans and the City Police and Fire Departments to provide a
job shadowing opportunity for students.
Job
shadowing is an academically motivating activity designed to give the students
an up-close look at the world of work. “Students get to see
firsthand how the skills learned in school relate to the workplace and what
skills they need to acquire to obtain a good job” said Kara Vanhoy, Youth
Coordinator for the Tennessee Career Center. “It is also a great way
for businesses to introduce students to their industry.” Job shadowing
gives young people a new perspective on their education. Shadowing introduces
students to the requirements of professions and industries, building a more
prepared workforce for the future.
Cumberland County Job Shadow hosts included: Lt. Becky Seiber-Wright,
Sgt. Larry Qualls, Patrolman Kenny Cherry, Sgt. Alan Wyatt, Patrolman John
Tollett,
and Patrolman Roger Parsons of the Crossville Police Department , Chief Mike
Turner, Deputy Chief Chris South, Firefighter/Paramedic Tim Sapp, and Firefighter
Kevin Edwards of the Crossville Fire Department, Circuit Court Clerk Larry
Sherrill, City Recorder Sally Oglesby, Career Center Resource Specialist Sue
Taylor, Erica Greenwood with Cumberland Medical Center Pharmacy, Barbara Dean
with the Cumberland Medical Center Surgery Unit, GIS Coordinator Tim Begley,
Melanie Phillips at Good Samaritans, and the staff at the Crossville Water
Department. “We are happy to be a part of this initiative,” said
Lt. Fred Sherrill with the City Police Department. “We hope the alliances
formed with local employers will open doors to some great opportunities for
our students.”
The fourteen students who participated were members of the Tennessee Career
Center Future Stars Youth Program. These students were Rebecca Baragona, Eileen
Carter, Charity Smith, Jeremiah Corum, Desiree Lenkowski, Kimberley Meeker,
Elizabeth Johns, Heather Lenkowski, Jaime Shaw, Lydia Yehl, Lititia Campbell,
Steven Hall, Suzanne Meeker, and Donna Baisley.
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“I observed two surgeries” said Donna Baisley, “One was
an antibiotic implant and the other was a cyst removal – very cool.”
“In Geographic Information Systems at City Hall, they showed me a zoomed-in
satellite picture of my house and even a creek in my backyard” said Jeremiah
Corum, “I did not know that Crossville had that kind of technology.”
Jaime Shaw, who shadowed City Recorder Sally Oglesby, said “I was allowed
to sit in a meeting where they dicussed installing a traffic light on my
street and I saw a records book that was one hundred years old.” Steven
Hall assisted the CMC pharmacist in filling a prescription. Desiree Lenkowksi
and Elizabeth Johns rode along with police officers. Desiree said “We
talked to a witness in a hit and run case and rode in the police car with
the sirens and lights on – we loved it, it was very exciting!”
The participants had questionnaires for their Job Shadow hosts. This allowed
them to find out detailed information on the kinds of skills and education
needed to perform the jobs they shadowed. Questions included what subjects
did the hosts wish they had studied more in school. The top three answers were
math, writing skills, and computer skills. The participants have realized the
skills they learn in school really will carry over into their future careers.
The Tennessee Career Center
would like to express a heartfelt “thank
you” to all of the Job Shadow hosts, Dr. Janet Brooker at CCHS for coordinating
attendance, Fran Young in CCHS Guidance, Don Alexander at Crossville Housing
Authority for transportation, and Lt. Fred Sherrill for all his coordination
efforts.
To find out more about Job Shadowing or to become involved, please contact:
Kara Vanhoy at the Tennessee Career Center located on 60 Ridley St, 931-484-7456
Ext. 105.
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