Student Success Symposium inspires futures by connecting employers with students

The Chamber hosted its annual Student Success Symposium on April 29 at the RiverCenter. 110 local students from 9 high schools connected with more than 45 Quad Cities employers at this dynamic event, aimed to inspire and guide high school students on the path to their future careers.

"The Symposium showcases the variety of careers available in the Quad Cities, and provides live demonstrations, hands-on experiences and break-out sessions to get students engaged and excited about different fields," said James Porter, Vice President, Talent & Inclusion for the Chamber. "We know that creating a robust talent pipeline is essential for our future workforce." 

Careers represented included everything from court stenography, to firefighting; early childhood education to construction and welding. New employer booths this year included Birth to Five Illinois, Estes Construction, La' James International College and Quad Cities International Airport.

Davenport West High School student, Dakota Forari, a junior, asked questions at the East Moline Fire Department's booth and tried on gear. "I'm really more interested in the trades or hands-on work. I don't really want to be in an office. So this event is showing me all my options, it's letting me actually see it in a hands-on way, to help me make up my mind."

Emily Cummings the Regional Council Manager at Birth to Five Illinois agrees that hands-on stations and talking to employers first-hand, helps students make better decisions about their futures. "One of our key priorities at Birth to Five is strengthening the early childhood workforce," she said. "We’re always looking for ways to recruit and retain passionate, talented people in this field."

Birth to Five exhibited several play-based learning stations modeled after an early childhood classroom, with themed centers like blocks, math, language, sensory/science and geography. "We hope to show high school students that when young children play, they’re building the foundational skills for a wide range of careers." Cummings said the organization wants students to see how meaningful and dynamic early childhood education is and how they can be a part of it, whether as educators, family support professionals or advocates working in community systems.

At the Quad Cities International Airport booth, airport police and fire personnel were represented, as well as ground handling, operations and airfield maintenance. Students tried their hand at a Jaws-of-Life Jenga game, as well as testing out wands for aircraft direction.

"Introducing students to aviation careers at an early age helps them see opportunities they might not otherwise consider,” said Ashleigh Davis, Public Relations and Marketing Manager for the Airport. “Whether it’s learning how aircraft are guided on the ground, understanding emergency response tools or exploring the mechanics of airfield operations, these experiences can spark interest and show that there’s a place for everyone in aviation. It’s a field with real career potential, and it’s critical to close gaps and meet the growing demand by building awareness now," she said. 

At the Estes Construction booth, students learned about the "Safe or Not Safe" game, where they identified whether or not a tool is suitable for a job site. According to Cassie Scott, Project Manager, "From heart to hand, safety is everyone's commitment at Estes." She added that the team was excited to meet with students and be at their first Symposium. The booth also showcased the technology the company uses, including drones and specialty cameras. 

After the career fair, students had the opportunity to attend several workshops on different topics affecting students today, including unlocking their potential, balancing mental health and career goals, creating a personal brand, building connections and learning about high-income skilled trades. 

Haley DeGreve, founder of the Gray Matters Collective, gave the presentation, Headstrong: Balancing Mental Health, Stress & Career Goals. "We want young people to know they don't have to struggle in silence," she said. "We've tried to empower them to become advocates in this space. The rates of college and high school students struggling with stress, burnout, mental health problems and mental illness - it seems like it's getting to be a larger problem. So, the conversation is needed now in these students' lives more than ever, and it really comes down to the statistics. We want to help young people be more happy, healthy and well," she said. 

The Student Success Symposium was free to both students and employers, thanks to the generosity of the Hubbell Waterman Foundation.