Northwest Iowa Community College welcomed more than 1,400 eighth-grade students from 28 northwest Iowa schools for its annual Career Day on April 17th.
Hands-On Career Exploration
The event is designed to introduce students to a wide range of career opportunities while helping them begin thinking about their futures. Throughout the day, students rotated through sessions featuring 59 career exploration booths and 137 presenters representing a variety of industries.
Students had the chance to engage directly with professionals, see demonstrations, and take part in hands-on activities. Career areas included nursing, advanced manufacturing, law enforcement, entrepreneurship, aviation, and human services—many tied directly to opportunities available in northwest Iowa.
Engagement and Real-World Experiences
Career Academy and Exploration Coordinator Brenda Sandbulte says the day stood out because of how engaged the students were.
She says that whether students were testing their welding skills at a booth or participating in interactive anatomy demonstrations, there was consistent energy and curiosity throughout the event.
Sandbulte says she also provided activities to guide students as they visited booths, adding that feedback from both school counselors and presenters was overwhelmingly positive.
Students Seeing New Possibilities
According to Sandbulte, student reflections showed the experience went beyond just a day away from the classroom.
She says many students viewed the event as an opportunity to explore both familiar career paths and ones they had never considered before.
Regional Reach and Community Support
NCC President Dr. John Hartog says the students came from communities across northwest Iowa, highlighting the regional impact of the event.
College officials say they are grateful for the many business and industry partners, educators, and volunteers who helped make the day possible. They say those partnerships are key to helping students connect their interests with future career paths.
This story is courtesy of fellow Community First Broadcasting station KIWA Radio
