Career Fair informs Fourth Graders

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jeff Walston
  • 913th Airlift Group
Little Rock AFB, Ark. --  More than 250 students from Conway Public Schools attended the first ever Fourth Grade Elementary Career Fair, in Conway, Ark., May 17, 2016.

The career fair was organized and hosted by school counselors and members of the community. The Second Baptist Church of Conway donated eight different classroom spaces and an auditorium for the event.

“The purpose of the fair is to expose the students to careers they might not have considered and the level of education those careers might require,” said Heather Leavell, a counselor at Marguerite Vann Elementary.

Leavell, who helped organize this year’s fair, said it was based on a model from Greenbrier, Ark., which has been in place for several years.

Nine local professionals presented information about their chosen careers, which included aviation, banking, coaching sports, law enforcement, military service, modeling, music, nursing, real estate and video production.

U.S. Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Neil Hede, commander, 327th Airlift Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., volunteered to introduce the students to what he does as an Air Force Reserve Pilot and show them that one can be highly successful in whatever they choose to do through perseverance and hard work.

“I enjoy being able to help young people. Like my daughter, they’re thinking about the future earlier now, and we need to present ideas for them to think about. I’m glad I could share just a few of the many careers the Air Force can offer,” Hede said.

Students were able to ask questions while interacting with the presenters, and in some instances receive hands-on experience with some “tools of the trade” and visual aids that presenters used to help explain their profession.

“We try to do different careers each year, so (students) can look at their interest and abilities,” Leavell said. “We explore fields that require education and those that do not.”

When the students return to school, they’re asked about their experiences and fill out a questionnaire about what they learned.

“We don’t make a plan for their future,” said Leavell. “We just expose them to the possibilities. We never tell them they ‘cannot.’ But, we do want them to have a backup.”