On March 13, 2024, the Exchange Park in Ladson, home of the Coastal Carolina Fair each fall, hosted a very special event empowering local students with career awareness and experiences!

1200+ 8th-10th grade students from throughout the Trident Region, including 600+ from CCSD middle & high schools, had the opportunity to gain valuable awareness about the wide range of careers that await them after graduation in our community.

This regional hands-on career fair was organized by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and included experiences provided by 20+ local partners. (see complete list of businesses below) 

Participating CCSD Schools:

• Northwoods Middle School
• Military Magnet Academy
• Wando High School
• Haut Gap Middle School
• Burke High School
• RB Stall High School
• Simmons Pinckney Middle School
• North Charleston High School
• Buist Academy
• Laing Middle School
• Camp Road Middle

Interactive exhibits from of the event included the trailer from AI Nautics, the Be Pro Be Proud Truck and a robotics demo by Mr. Holmes Mechatronics students from West Ashley Center for Advanced Studies!

The regional event also featured a special Build-A-Shed competition. CCSD students from Baptist Hill Middle High School, East Cooper Center for Advanced Studies, James Island Charter High School and Lucy Beckham High School competed against teams from schools in Dorchester and Berkeley counties in a competition to use blueprints to build the most accurate shed as a team in a single day! Students, under the guidance and supervision of professional contractors, planned and constructed their sheds, which were judged and then scored.

Students from Lucy Beckham High school finished 1st place!

Congratulations to Mr. Daniel Stroud, CTE Construction teacher, and his students from Lucy Beckham HS for winning the Build-A-Shed competition!

• Walker Laird
• Harrison Petty
• Luke Russell
• Jackson VanKirk
• Phenix Mashburn
• Jake Hutto

Check out this story on the Charleston Metro Chamber’s website with additional pictures and a great video.

Thank you to all of our regional business partners who spent valuable time with our future leaders.

Special thanks ABC Carolinas and to the members of the Exchange Club of Charleston for their support of this regional career development event!

AI NAUTICSBe Pro Be Proud SC Boeing South Carolina Charleston County EMS Charleston County Government Charleston County School District Charleston Fire Department City of Charleston First Tee – Greater Charleston, SC Gas and Supply Hendrick Automotive Group of Charleston/North Charleston Job Impulse, Inc Labor Market Information Division at SCDEW Lowcountry Hospitality Association MUSC Health- Laboratory Services MUSC Health- Mammography MUSC Health- Neuroscience/EEG Tech MUSC Health- Pharmacy Tech Program MUSC Health- Respiratory Care MUSC Health- Sterile Processing MUSC Health- Volunteer & Career Exploration Services NIWC Altantic Roper St. Francis Healthcare Sanders Brothers Construction Co.

SeaGrant ConsortiumSHL Medical South Carolina Department of Natural Resources South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance South Carolina Ports Authority Sportsman Boats Mfg. W International West Ashley HS Robotics 35 North Painting and Drywall 84 Lumber BrandSafway Solutions CarolinaPower Cullum Mechanical Construction, Inc. Distinct Builders LLC Edifice General Contractors Evans General Contractors Frampton Construction Graycor Inc. HITT Contracting Inc. Keller North America Miller-Valentine Group Milwaukee Tools Samet Corporation Sunstate Equipment