More than 900 juniors in Lawton Public Schools will receive information on choosing a career when they attend the Life Ready Conference & Career Fair on Tuesday at First Assembly of God church.
The event is designed to introduce students to career opportunities while they are juniors and have time to take courses at LPS that align with those goals, according to Devon Lewis, LPS District Career Adviser.
“It’s an opportunity to see vendors, see what summer jobs are available, what is out there after graduation,” Lewis said.
Students may choose to attend four of 17 sessions where speakers will present information about job opportunities in specific career fields; a career fair will be held in the gym where vendors will provide information on other jobs.
Juniors were surveyed to see what careers they are interested in, Lewis said. STEM-related fields, as well as hospitality and fine arts scored the highest, so those were incorporated into this year’s conference.
Raegan Martin-Teakell, with FISTA Innovation Park, said she and others associated with FISTA will be on hand to tell students about STEM-related jobs in Lawton. Students will hear about the proposed STEM lab and what it will offer, in addition to hearing from defense company representatives.
“If they make a decision in their junior year, that will put them on a path to success if they decide early enough. Maybe they can get them into some kind of internship,” Martin-Teakell said.
Torch is one company that offers internships to college students, Martin-Teakell said. She told of a Cameron University student who is interning with the company and is now in Huntsville, Ala., for more training. Martin-Teakell said his goal is to come back to Lawton to be close to family.
“It’s an incredible option to have,” she said. “Students don’t have to leave home. They have a job opportunity here at home that is mind-blowing. They will leave (the career fair) knowing what path they need to take.”
Brandi Thomas, general manager of Hilton Garden Inn, will present information on the hospitality industry. Thomas said the hotel has a variety of careers students might be interested in, from housekeeping to culinary to management. Thomas said students can learn skills locally and then transfer those skills to other opportunities.
Other career options include banking, real estate, the future of AI, the legal profession, education, aviation/mechanics and medical.
Practical information, such as how to create a resume and what employers look for when they view social media accounts, also will be discussed.
“Hopefully they will find something that will pique their interest in some kind of career they like or will lead them to something similar or they can go straight to the workforce,” Lewis said. “The goal is to have something for everybody.”