WCS Partnership Offers Unique Opportunities to Students

Published August 15, 2014

If you missed the chance to get involved in the Williamson Inc. (Williamson Chamber) Education Initiative, there’s still time to volunteer and offer your expertise.

The initiative, which kicked off in January 2014, came out of the education committee of Williamson Inc. as a partnership between WCS and the business community. Individual Chamber professionals and businesses signed up to volunteer or offer other opportunities in one of five initiative areas: speakers bureau; career exploration day; student job shadowing; student internships and co-ops; and teacher job shadowing/externships.

“These initiatives provide a space for students, teachers and businesses to gain a greater understanding of the relevance of our curriculum to students’ career choices,” said WCS Development Director Deb Enright. “Rarely is there a straight line in someone’s career path – and our students are learning and witnessing that first hand, which will in turn help shape and educate their own school and career choices. It’s a facet to the classroom that is needed and necessary to help engage the future generation of workers.”

This past summer, ten students participated in internships that were arranged through the education initiative. Atmos Energy, Interactive Media Services, GraceWorks, Williamson Emergency Services and Porter Roofing Contractors are just a few businesses that opened their doors to WCS students.

“These experiences are critical to our students becoming better equipped to make choices about college and about their future careers,” said WCS Career Counselor Rebecca Collins. “We’re coming off a successful summer of internships and job shadowing and our hope is that these experiences continue through the school year with internships, and speakers, and into next summer with more and more businesses taking part in the initiative.”

There is a still great demand for businesses to partner with schools and participate in this program. There is a particular demand for companies and professionals in the following fields: technology companies, English related careers (including but not limited to journalism), fine arts and culinary arts.

If you or your business would like to get involved, please visit williamsonchamber.com. Questions can be directed to Rebecca Collins, rebeccac@wcs.edu.