SECO event to be held in November
Central Louisiana Businesses are invited to participate in a career expo for tenth grade students on Wednesday and Thursday, November 15 and 16, 2017, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Alexandria Riverfront Center. Booth space is free of charge. The fourth annual “Students Exploring Career Opportunities” (SECO) event is being presented by The Orchard Foundation, The Rapides Foundation and Central Louisiana school districts.
SECO organizers are recruiting about 70 industries and postsecondary institutions to set up interactive exhibits to represent various career clusters. Displays should provide some type of tangible hands-on activity or item for students that encourage involvement in the exhibit. Through participation, business and community leaders can play an active role in helping students make informed career decisions, while making a long-term investment for a better Cenla workforce in the future.
Approximately 3,000 tenth grade students from Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Winn and Vernon parishes will attend SECO. Tenth graders participate in SECO because at the end of the sophomore year students must choose to pursue the TOPS University diploma or the Jump Start TOPS Tech diploma. The Louisiana Department of Education has implemented these pathways for all high school students to help them prepare for future success.
Events like SECO help students make informed career decisions and make school more relevant which is a key contributor to raising the graduation rate and opening the door to some type of postsecondary training.
To participate in SECO, businesses or other organizations must complete the to reserve the free exhibit space. Registration forms should be completed as soon as possible since space is limited. To learn more, contact Stephanie Moreau by email at Stephanie.h.moreau@gmail.com or call The Orchard Foundation at 318-767-6561.
Online SECO Registration Form