HANDS-ON CAREER EXPLORATION INTRODUCES MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO HIGH-DEMAND INDUSTRIES
James Sprunt Community College recently hosted a STEAMA (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Agriculture) Camp for rising seventh, eighth, and ninth-grade students in Duplin County. The camp provided students with an exciting opportunity to explore future career pathways through hands-on learning experiences and industry-specific field trips.
Students selected one of four pathways:
- Agriculture Technology
- Business & Information Technology (IT)
- Trades & Industry
- Health Science & Public Safety
Participants spent part of each day on the JSCC campus, gaining exposure to college instructors, specialized equipment, and real-world career experiences. Each pathway also included a field trip designed to connect students with professionals and workplaces in their chosen field of interest.
Susi Burger, Career Development & Work-Based Learning Coordinator and Duplin Industrial Trades & Technology Academy Coordinator for Duplin County Schools, highlighted the value of the camp:“STEAMA Camp is a wonderful opportunity for students to get hands-on and up close with a wide variety of future career options. Through partnerships with industry partners and instructors from both Duplin County Schools and James Sprunt Community College, students were able to experience many career pathways and educational opportunities located in Duplin County and the surrounding areas.”
Agriculture Technology
Students in the Agriculture Technology pathway explored the poultry industry, farm maintenance opportunities in the welding shop, food science, horticulture, and agribusiness. Their field trip included visits to Nash Johnson Hatchery and the Wallace location of House of Raeford.
Business & Information Technology
Students in the Business & IT pathway gained experience in graphic design, entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, and robotics. The group also visited Valicy Gaming in Wilmington for an industry-focused field trip.
Trades & Industry
Students explored careers in electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC, diesel technology, machining, robotics, industrial systems, lineworker, and CDL. Their field experiences included visits to Design Mode in Warsaw, the new JSCC Workforce Development construction site, and the Duplin County Schools Maintenance and Bus Garage.
Health Science
Students in the Health Science pathway were introduced to Surgical Technology, EMS and Fire Services, Basic Law Enforcement Training, Criminal Justice, and Mass Casualty Response. Their field trip took them to ECU Health Duplin.
Liz Howard, Dean of Business and Industry at JSCC and co-coordinator of this year’s STEAMA Camp, reflected on the impact of the program:
STEAMA Camp was an incredible example of what can happen when strong partnerships come together with a shared vision for student success. Through the collaboration between Duplin County Schools and James Sprunt Community College, students were immersed in hands-on learning experiences across trades, health sciences, business and information technology, and agriculture. Each day offered students opportunities to explore career pathways, engage with industry professionals, and discover new interests and talents.
From industry tours to our end-of-camp showcase, the excitement and enthusiasm from students and instructors have been truly inspiring. We are especially grateful to organizations like NC East Alliance and STEM East for their support and partnership in making opportunities like this possible. It has been an honor to welcome our rising seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-grade students to campus this week as we work together to inspire and develop the next generation of our workforce.”
The week concluded with a parent showcase that welcomed families, community members, and representatives from Duplin County Schools to campus. The event gave students an opportunity to demonstrate what they learned and celebrate their accomplishments throughout the camp experience.
Tiffany Cassell is the Career and Technical Education Curriculum and Instructional Management Coordinator for Duplin County Schools. In reference to the camp, Cassell said,
Revitalization of the DCS STEAMA Camp with the collaboration of JSCC for Duplin County Schools middle grades students was an excellent example of personalized pathways that students can engage in locally. The unique ability for students to experience hands-on skills with Duplin County Schools teachers and JSCC faculty and staff highlighted the value of developing and fostering a strong pipeline of career exposure, career preparation, and education provided by both institutions. This partnership is one of the many ways in which we hope students, teachers, and families recognize how valuable collaboration is for our community.”
Dr. Shannon Hair, President of JSCC, stated,
Last week, James Sprunt Community College was able to deliver high-quality, engaging STEAMA camps that provided students with meaningful exposure to all that our college has to offer. This year’s STEAMA Camps provided Duplin County’s rising seventh, eighth, and ninth-grade students with hands-on learning experiences, field trips, and the opportunity to interact with our exceptional faculty and staff while exploring state-of-the-art equipment and learning about the strong industry connections that will help prepare them for gainful employment. The camp also provided valuable opportunities for collaboration with our partners at Duplin County Schools, which we greatly appreciate. Thank you to Liz Howard, Dean of Business and Industry at JSCC, our industry partners, Duplin County Schools, and all who made the STEMA Camp such an amazing success.”
Through hands-on learning, industry engagement, and strong community partnerships, STEAMA Camp continues to inspire students to explore educational and career opportunities while building the workforce of tomorrow.
