VU Jasper welcomes 600 high school freshmen to Tour of Opportunity

October 18, 2023

JASPER, Ind. - To inspire and empower the future workforce, Vincennes University Jasper hosted Dubois County high school students for the Tour of Opportunity, providing them with a unique chance to explore local careers. This innovative event aims to expose young minds to various professions within the community, ranging from agriculture and arts to business finance and robotics.

By providing early exposure and hands-on experiences, students can make informed decisions about their career options and establish valuable connections with local professionals and businesses. It also contributes to the development and growth of the local workforce, ensuring a brighter future for students and Dubois County.

“Six hundred freshmen had the opportunity to choose from 14 career pathways,” Patoka Valley Career and Technical Cooperative Director Jarred Howard said. “We could not make this happen without tremendous support from VU Jasper and our local industry partners. We had over 25 different community partners provide a tremendous learning experience for our students to learn about future career and education opportunities in our county. This event was a success for all stakeholders that were involved.”

After gathering on the VU Jasper Campus on Wednesday, Oct. 11, students from Jasper High School, Forest Park High School, Northeast Dubois High School, and Southridge High School toured local businesses and companies. Students were introduced to career opportunities in pathways encompassing a spectrum of fields, ensuring the chance to explore a career path that truly resonated with their interests and aspirations.

According to VU Jasper Center for Technology, Innovation, and Manufacturing Director Jacob Berg, “The collaboration between VU Jasper and our industry partners for the Tour of Opportunity is a testament to our commitment to nurturing and inspiring our future workforce. We want our local students to know the multitude of opportunities that are available to them before they graduate high school. This career exploration event is vitally important to achieving this goal.”

Following the morning tours, VU Jasper faculty and staff and industry partners shared engaging presentations and demonstrations, showcasing the wealth of opportunities the University and companies offer.

The Tour of Opportunity fosters community and encourages collaboration between VU Jasper and industry partners, ensuring Dubois County youth have access to meaningful and rewarding careers.

For more information about VU Jasper and its programs of study, please visit HERE

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