Keokuk High School students have been invited to explore a multitude of career paths that can lead to their “dream life.” The school is hosting the KHS Career Expo, a career fair/conference for high school students held during school on March 6 to expose students to a diverse range of career options by connecting them with professionals from various industries.
“Through listening to speakers or exploring the event independently, students will gain insight into different career paths, allowing them to broaden their understanding of future options.”
Jen Roederer, KHS Vice Principal
“By connecting students with business partners and professionals from the local community, students will understand how the knowledge and skills they acquire in school are applied in real-world settings, reinforcing the importance of their education in preparing them for future careers,” Roederer said.
More than 90 speakers will attend to speak on various career paths and recruit students to the training/education needed to get there. Each student will choose seven topic sessions out of the 25 available options to get the chance in a small group to interact closely with professionals. The options include law, agriculture and conservation, animal care, art, automotive, criminal justice, manufacturing, event planning, finance, design, healthcare, media, technology, utilities/infrastructure, trucking, trades, and many more.
Speakers are from many regional companies, municipalities, and nonprofits, including the Iowa Judicial Branch, Liberty Utilities, Lee County Conservation, Roquette America, Freeze Dried U.S.A., WGEM, Keokuk Veterinary Hospital, JJ Nichting Company, Joy Painting Restoration, Klingner & Associates, Iowa State Penitentiary, Keokuk Municipal Waterworks, Winegard Company, Climax Molybdenum Co., Quincy Medical Group, Edward Jones, Connection Bank, Lee County Emergency Medical Services, Hoerner YMCA, RePete Candle & Coffee Bar, Blue Umbrella Bakery, Lee County Health Department, Heartland Pathways Counseling, Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, Yuppy Puppy Pet Parlor, Elston Auto Repair, The Hidden Tower, 1884 On the Bluff, Henniges Automotive, Keokuk Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Department, Keokuk Fire Department, AirEvac, and more.
Some of the speakers are providing hands-on opportunities such as exploring the AirEvac helicopter, using virtual reality to explore several fields, including trucking, and checking out a fire truck up close.
“Overall, the Career Expo will play a crucial role in helping students navigate their career paths by providing valuable insights, connections, and experiences that support their academic and professional development,” Roederer added. “Through this event, the students will gain a better understanding of the opportunities available to them and are better equipped to make informed decisions about their future careers.”
There will also be recruiters from colleges, universities, branches of the military, and area jobs.
“We would like to thank our community for the outpouring of support in giving up their time to speak to our students for the expo,” Jessica M. Martin, Keokuk Community School District, said. “We believe our students will benefit greatly from having this type of event back at KHS.”
If KHS students or parents have questions, please contact the high school.