Port and School district plan Career Fair to educate students about port industries and career outlook
Did you know that industries at the Port of Kalama employ more than 1000 people? And there are Fortune 500 companies right here conducting global business and commerce including import/export, manufacturing, marketing, welding and steel work, recycling, trucking and any myriad other commercial and industrial enterprises. They choose Kalama for its ideal location in the heart of the Pacific Northwest on the highway, railroad and river.
The Port of Kalama and the Kalama School District are working together to let Kalama students know more about opportunities after high school. And they are plentiful—right here at home.
The Kalama School District Career Fair takes place on Thursday, February 16 at Kalama High School with sessions for students from noon to 3:00 p.m. and again in the evening for parents to join them for a showcase of the wide range of job opportunities available, the skill sets required, and the pathway to obtaining those jobs. The event, which will be organized like a trade show with booths and spokespeople, is intended to be a career fair rather than a job fair and there is no expectation of hiring as part of the event.
Where: Kalama High School Gym
When: February 16, 12:00—3:00 and 5:00—6:30
“The Port of Kalama is working to develop a closer relationship between the students and faculty of the Kalama Schools and the Port’s business partners on the waterfront— the fair offers an opportunity to meet members of the business community and learn about the work we do, as well as career opportunities for students,” says Mark Wilson, executive director, Port of Kalama. “We hope to improve the understanding of the business activities here and let students know about the many career opportunities that can be found right here in the community.”
Kalama students will go through the career fair in groups: 6th, 7th and 8th grade first; 9th and 10th second; and 11th and 12th last. Each group will have about an hour to visit with the businesses. Each group will have received an hour long presentation about the business community at the Port prior to going to the career fair to help guide them to career opportunities they want to learn more about. The partnership’s goal is to make middle and high school students aware of the career opportunities in their community and how to build a path toward those careers.
For more information or to RSVP to participate, call Jackie Heupel at the Port of Kalama at 360-673-2325 or jheupel@portofkalama.com , Mark Wilson, Executive Director, Port of Kalama at 360-673-2325, markwilson@portofkalama.com or Eric Nerison, Superintendent, Kalama Schools at 360-673-5228, eric.nerison@kalama.k12.wa.us.
