Engage. Inform. Inspire. These were the goals for the second annual Mission Tomorrow – and judging from the energy and feedback of over 12,000 students, 140 exhibitors, and almost 200 volunteers – our region’s largest career expo was a huge success!
Over November 1 and 2, students from all eight school districts participated in interactive exhibits from career clusters such as health science, arts, manufacturing, finance, public safety, and more. Each booth shared a little about their work and career path, while offering hands-on activities for the students, ranging from flight simulators and life-size Monopoly to welding and CPR. Mission Tomorrow is a fantastic and fun way to introduce students to possible careers, and help them start planning. Students also gain a better understanding of what it means to be prepared for a job, with follow-up resources like “Invest in What’s Next” and “Virginia Education Wizard.”
In post-surveys, exhibitors, volunteers, and educators rated the event as excellent. Most importantly, though, was feedback from over 2,000 students.
- 82% of students saw a new career
- 88% of students discussed a career with an exhibitor
- 86% of students want more info on a particular career
- 49% discussed this (and career ideas) with an adult after the event
The Collaborative was again thrilled to partner with ChamberRVA, the Federal Reserve, HandsOn, John Tyler, and others to make sure our region’s students are ready for the jobs of tomorrow!
