2023 CAREER EXPLORATION DAY

The 27th Annual Career Exploration Day, held on October 18th, was hosted by the Nebraska National Guard and the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce's Business & Education Committee. This year, we had 63 businesses and roughly 500 students, traveling from as far as Valentine, NE (211 miles). Booths invited the students to learn about the many career opportunities in the workforce. Businesses provided simulators, VR headsets, hands-on activities, and other visual aids for students to experience. Three 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, Barista's Daily Grind, Culligan, 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!

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

National Guard Armory, McDonald's, Dismas Charities, ALLO Fiber, Bayer Crop Science, On Point Construction, NTV News, Fast Forward, Kidwell, Kearney Crete & Block, Ashley Homestore, Credit Management Services, Sahling Kenworth, AirCare/Apollo MedFlight, Kearney Regional Medical Center, NE Department of Transportation, NE Department of Labor, LandMark Implement, Chief Agri, Kearney Police Department, U.S. Cellular, Butler Ag Equipment, Beebout Veterinary Medical Center, The Andersons, Builders, CSS Farms, Midlands Contracting, Cash-Wa Distributing, Associated Staffing, BD Construction, Central Community College, CHI Health Good Samaritan, City of Kearney Park & Rec, Joseph's College:: Cosmetology, Nebraska Public Power District, Parker Hannifin Corporation, Royal Engineered Composites, University of Nebraska at Kearney, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Attending schools,

Amherst High School, Arcadia Public Schools, Axtell Community School, Blue Hill Public School, Burwell Jr.-Sr. High School, Callaway Public Schools, Central Valley Public Schools, Grand Island Central Catholic, Johnson County Central High School, Kearney Catholic High School, Kearney High School, Kearney Public Schools, Lexington High School, Litchfield Public School, Pleasanton Public School, S.E.M. Public Schools, St. Paul High School, Valentine High School, Wilcox - Hildreth Public School, and Wood River Rural Schools.

And to this year's Panel Presenters:

Terry Hall Kearney Regional Medical Center, Ann Pedersen Dismas Charities, Mark Reid NRG Media, Laurie Widdowson CSS Farms, Jon Mosbarger BD Construction, Brandon Drozd University of Nebraska Medical Center, Megan Goeke UNK College of Business & Technology/ Hello Beautiful Bridal & Formal Wear, Charlie Wuehler ALLO Fiber, Brett Rooks Black Hills Energy, Nathan Dennis Kearney Police Department, Dr. Brandon W. Beebout Beebout Veterinary Medical Center, Dustin Brown The Andersons, Adam Gettinger Eaton Corporation, Erick Verbeck Great Plains Communication, Zach Volquardsen Bayer Crop Science, Jason Mundorf Kearney Public Schools, Kell Bridges BluePrint Engines, and Jim Geodert Central Nebraska Veterans Home.

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

Cassy Kvasnicka, Mark Liljehorn, Kristi Gargen, Kirsti Schack, Bridgett Lavene, Dan Gettinger, Regen Lux, Shelby Bock, and Deb Wilken.

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.