2022 CAREER EXPLORATION DAY

The 26th Annual Career Exploration Day, held on October 26th, was hosted by the Nebraska National Guard and the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce's Business & Education Committee. This year, we had 62 businesses and over 850 students, traveling from as far as Tecumseh, NE (184 miles) -- that’s 20 more businesses and 484 more students than last year! Booths engaged students about the many career opportunities in the workforce. Businesses brought simulators, VR headsets, hands-on equipment, and other visual aids for students to experience. Two panel sessions were held to offer an opportunity for students to ask professionals about their experiences. The industries represented in the panel sessions included marketing & management, human services and education, agriculture, food, natural resources, communication and information systems, skilled and technical sciences, and health sciences.

We appreciate the following businesses who donated items to support this event: Kearney National Guard, US Cellular, Coca Cola-Dr. Pepper, Kearney Visitors Bureau, Ktown Cakery, Dunkin Donuts, Walmart, Hy-Vee, and the Economic Development Council of Buffalo County.

We want to thank all the businesses, panelists, and volunteers for making this event such an incredible success!

We are happy everyone enjoyed this excellent event and networking opportunity! We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!

For more information on Career Exploration Day, click on the link here, or contact Heather Ullman by calling the Chamber at 308-237-3101 or by emailing hullman@kearneycoc.org.

The Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce is proud of the contributions of the local community! Thank you again to the following businesses:

NE Department of Labor, LandMark Implement, Chief Agri, Black Hills Energy, Kearney Police Department, U.S. Cellular, Butler Ag Equipment, Raising Canes, Holmes Plumbing & Heating Supply Co, Hilltop Pet Clinic, The Andersons, Qdoba, Eakes Office Solutions, Builders, Early Head Start/ Community Action Partnership, Trius Federal Credit Union, CSS Farms, Midlands Contracting, Heartland Surgery Center, Cash-Wa Distributing, Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary, Associated Staffing, BD Construction, Buckle, Central Community College, CHI Health Good Samaritan, City of Kearney, Joseph's College :: Cosmetology, Mosaic in Axtell, Nebraska Public Power District, NRG Media - KQKY, KRNY, KGFW, Parker Hannifin Corporation, Royal Engineered Composites, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Thank you to the following schools!

Amherst High School, Loomis High School, Red Cloud High School, Pleasanton High School, Cozad High School, Litchfield High School, Kearney Home School, Johnson County Central High School, Bertrand Community School, Chambers High School, Meridian High School, Ravenna High School, Wilcox-Hildreth Public Schools, St. Paul Public Schools, Central Valley High School, Burwell Jr. Sr. High School, Blue Hill Community Schools, North Platte High School, Lexington High School, Centura Public Schools, Kearney Catholic High School, KHS - Project SEARCH, Loup County Public Schools, Axtell Community School, Nebraska Christian High School, S.E.M. Public Schools

Riverside Public Schools, Ord High School, Grand Island Success Academy High School, Callaway High School, Arcadia High School, Hanny Arram Center for Success, Gibbon Public Schools, Paxton Consolidated Schools, Kearney High School

And thank you to the panel presenters:

Amanda Polacek Kearney Regional Medical Center, LaRae Flood Early Development Network at ESU 10, Laurie Widdowson CSS Farms, Todd Herges Intellicom, Jon Mosbarger BD Construction, Brandon Drozd University of Nebraska Medical Center, Megan Goeke UNK College of Business & Technology/ Hello Beautiful Bridal & Formal Wear, Jason Whalen Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, Charlie Wuehler ALLO Fiber, Brett Rooks Black Hills Energy, Dr. Brandon W. Beebout Hilltop Pet Clinic, Matthew Kearns The Andersons.

Finally, thank you to all the dedicated volunteers who helped make this event a success!

Susan Haeberle, JoAnn Lilly, Cassy Kvasnicka, Mark Liljehorn, Rachel Rowley, Michelle Ryan, Nuria Lemus, Hope Janitscheck, and Jordan Squiers.