Over 2000 students arrived on buses from throughout the Charleston region, one after another – these students were chosen by their school to attend the 3rd annual STEM Career Fair at the North Charleston Convention Center October 12.

Students got to speak directly with professionals from companies keen on doing their part to develop the next generation of high skilled talent for the growing economy in the Charleston region.

Thank you to West Ashley Robotics for providing the wonderful video above! 

Hands on activities sparked conversations, and many students began professional relationships that could lead to a paid youth apprenticeship while still in high school!

Check out the list of participating businesses and schools below, along with a ton of pictures from the event.

But before the students began arriving, the day started with a special breakfast and panel discussion aimed at businesses interested in joining the regions robust Youth Apprenticeship program.

Ms. Carla Whitlock with Apprenticeship Carolina was the moderator and the expert panel made up of David Hall, Operations Manager for Environmental Express, Inc., Mitchell Harp, Dean of Apprenticeships at Trident Technical College, Karen Winningham, Senior Human Resources Specialist with Robert Bosch Charleston, and Curtiss Schall, a current apprentice with Robert Bosch Charleston.

MORE INFO ON YOUTH APPRENTICESHIPS

Thanks to the following businesses that invested their time to make the 2017 STEM Career Fair possible:
(Companies currently offering Youth Apprenticeships in cooperation with Trident Tech identified) 

Accutec Industries (TTC Apprenticeship)

Berkeley Electric Coop (and TTC Apprenticeship)

Blackbaud (TTC Apprenticeship)

Boeing South Carolina (TTC Apprenticeship)

Build Your Career / CAGC

Charleston County Consolidated 911 Center

Charleston County Government (TTC Apprenticeship)

Charleston County Parks & Recreation Commission (TTC Apprenticeship)

Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center

Charleston Southern University

Choate Construction

City of Charleston Police Department

City of North Charleston City Planner

Cummins (TTC Apprenticeship)

Davis & Floyd

DC Machine (TTC Apprenticeship)

Embassy Suites (TTC Apprenticeship)

Floyd Brace Company, Inc

Greystar (TTC Apprenticeship)

Hendrick Automotive (TTC Apprenticeship)

Kiawah Partners (TTC Apprenticeship)

Leatherwood Manufacturing, Inc

MAHLE Charleston

Mediterranean Shipping Company

Mercedes-Benz Vans

MSC Mediterranean Shipping (TTC Apprenticeship)

Nephron Pharmaceuticals

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

North Charleston Fire Department (TTC Apprenticeship)

North Charleston Police Department (TTC Apprenticeship)

Nucor Steel Berkeley

Pinnacle Construction & Directional Boring

Project HOPE

Robert Bosch (TTC Apprenticeship)

Roper St Francis (TTC Apprenticeship)

Safran Electrical and Power

SC Cyber

SC Society of Professional Land Surveyors

South Carolina Aquarium

SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic

St Johns Fire Dept (TTC Apprenticeship)

STEM Premier

Stier Supply Company

Streit USA Armoring

TIGHITCO

Trane

Transworld, Inc Electrical Contractors (Apprenticeships Available)

Tri-County Cradle to Career

Trident Health (TTC Apprenticeship)

Trident Technical College (TTC Apprenticeship)

UEC Electronics

US Dept of Agriculture

Venture Aerobearings (TTC Apprenticeship)

Verizon Costomer Service Center

Volvo Car US Operations

Zeltwanger CNC Mfg LP (TTC Apprenticeship)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out this list of participating schools:

Academic Magnet High School

Baptist Hill Middle High School

Berkeley High School

Buist Academy

Burke High School

Camp Road Middle School

Cane Bay High School

Carver Bay Middle School

CE Williams Middle School

Charleston Charter School for Math and Science

Coastal Montessori Charter School

Cross High School

Cyber Academy of SC

Daniel Jenkins Academy

Dorchester County Career and Technology Center

Dorchester County Career and Technology Center, Trolley Road

Fort Dorchester High School

Garrett Academy of Technology

Georgetown Middle School

Goose Creek High School

Hanahan High School

Haut Gap Middle School

James Island Charter High School

Military Magnet Academy

Montessori Community School

Morningside Middle School

Northwoods Middle School

R B Stall High School

RB Stall High School

Rosemary Middle School

SC Whitmore School, Virtual School

St. James-Santee Elementary Middle School

St. John’s High School

Stratford High School

Timberland High School

Waccamaw Middle School

West Ashley High School

West Ashley Middle School

Woodland High School

Zucker Middle School

Mr. Tremayne Smith, an educator from Daniel Jenkins Academy said, “The Career Fair was a great opportunity for our students at Daniel Jenkins to experience the various career options in the workforce. The exposure also generated interest in areas that our students may have never experienced or even considered. It is rewarding to see their interaction with the employees of the various companies and the way they handled the conversation.”

The event also included student led Robotics Team demos from:

• Team 342: Fort Dorchester High School “Burning Magnetos”
• Team 3489: Summerville/ Ashley Ridge High Schools “Category 5”
• Team 3490: Cane Bay High School “Viper Drive”
• Team 9623 West Ashley High School “WARP Drive”

Thank you to all the sponsors that enable this event to be staged at NO COST to our students – here are the event’s lead sponsors:

• Charleston County Economic Development
• Nephron Pharmaceuticals
• City of North Charleston
• Trident Technical College
• Charleston Regional Business Journal / SC Biz
• Apprenticeship Carolina

Please enjoy these additional pictures taken during the event – Even more pictures taken by SC Biz staff member available here.