Students reaping the benefits of the
2008 Summer Career Exploration Camp

The 2008 Summer Career Exploration Camp (SCEC) may be over, but at least one GEARUP student is still reaping the benefits of participation. Ashley Williams, a senior at Dater High School who successfully completed the rigorous three-week camp, recently has been employed by the Public Safety Department at the University of Cincinnati.

The summer camp included both classroom and job shadow components designed to provide participants with exposure to and experience in a variety of job and career opportunities and options. Ashley’s four two-day job shadow experiences on the University of Cincinnati’s Main Campus included Respiratory Therapy at University Hospital, the Radiation Safety Center, and the UC Dispatch Center as well as – you guessed it! – the Public Safety Department.

Examples of other job shadow sites for the 150 camp participants were Graphic Design in the nationally-recognized College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning (DAAP); Web Design and Information Systems in the College of Business; and Veterinary Medicine in the College of Medicine.

In addition to the SCEC job shadow experiences, each camper was required to develop an Individual Academic & Career Plan (IACP) that mapped out his/her career goals and the high school and post-secondary education, training, and work experiences needed to achieve those goals. The IACP served as the basis for a PowerPoint Presentation to parents and classmates that was the culminating experience on the final day of camp.

While each student who successfully completed the camp received a $600.00 stipend made possible by a Hamilton County Jobs & Family Services Grant, students like Ashley have begun to realize that the experiences and opportunities provided by the camp will pay even more important dividends as they begin to implement their academic and career plans.

In addition to her new job with UC Public Safety, Ashley is participating in the Seniors-to-Sophomores initiative launched by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland this school year. Through this program, Ashley is enrolled as a full-time freshman at the University of Cincinnati, simultaneously earning college credit while satisfying the remaining requirements for her high school diploma. By the start of the 2009-2010 academic year, this high school ‘senior’ will be a college sophomore.

Just goes to show you how GEARUP - through its school-year and summer programs - helps its students to become aware of and ready for both career and college opportunities, and how to take full advantage of those opportunities!

Congratulations, Ashley.
Keep up the good work!