South Harrison Community School Corporation recently held its annual Business Advisory Council meeting. Local community leaders and business owners gathered to collaborate with the College and Career Readiness Center on new ways to support one another and help ensure the success of students throughout the South Harrison community.
Each year, this meeting is held with one goal in mind: to explore and expand opportunities for both students and local businesses. It provides a valuable opportunity to gather feedback from industry leaders while also sharing the latest program updates with community partners. Most importantly, the meeting allows the CCR Center to strengthen connections with local businesses, ensuring that students, employers, and the community all benefit from the opportunities the program provides.
During the meeting, CCR Coordinator, Manda Graf and Director of Secondary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Allison Schalk highlighted South Harrison’s growing career pathway opportunities, along with the 26 additional programs available through the Prosser Career Education Center.
The meeting also emphasized the importance of exposing students to real-world career opportunities early on. By exploring a variety of career paths, students can better understand what they do and do not want to pursue before investing time and money into college or career training programs.
Student achievements were also celebrated, including students earning more than 3,000 dual credits during the last school year, resulting in an estimated $500,000 in tuition savings for families. It was also noted that several students are graduating with associate degrees this year.
Additionally, the meeting outlined workplace learning opportunities available to local businesses, including job shadowing experiences, paid internships, and varying levels of student involvement designed to best fit each organization’s needs. It was also encouraged for them to hire interns and take advantage of Indiana’s Work and Learn Program.
Overall, the meeting emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between the CCR Center and local employers to better prepare students for future careers, college, and life after graduation. Through partnerships with businesses and community leaders, South Harrison students are able to gain valuable real-world experiences, explore career interests, and develop the employability skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce. By working together, the CCR Center and local organizations can continue creating meaningful opportunities that benefit not only students, but also strengthen the future of the South Harrison community as a whole.