Rock Creek holds GEAR UP Career Fair

Rock Creek high school students got a glimpse of life after high school with a career fair November 8.

The fair was sponsored by the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Partnership as part of a career mini-grant program for the month of November, which is National Career Month. Rock Creek teachers coordinated the event.

Students heard from Veterinarian Dr. Megan Pope, Tyson Hog Farm owner Donnie McKee, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation senior agent Renae Childers, independent insurance adjuster Landon Jestis and small business owner Heather McKee, who owns Durant’s The Stitchery and Stuff.

Jan Frederick, Rock Creek Counselor, said students enjoyed the variety of speakers, and will be encouraged to consider their own futures because of this experience.

“Our students got to explore a variety of careers, and these kinds of ‘real life’ activities always provide educational opportunities,” Frederick said.

The SOSU GEAR UP Partnership is a federally grant funded program that serves 1,852 eleventh- and twelfth-graders in 14 schools in Bryan, Choctaw and McCurtain counties. The schools are: Achille, Bennington, Boswell, Broken Bow, Caddo, Calera, Colbert, Durant, Fort Towson, Hugo, Rock Creek, Silo, Soper and Valliant.

For more information on GEAR UP, call (580) 745-3122 or visit www.se.edu/gearup.