ABOVE: Danville High School welding instructor Joe Wernert poses with SKILLS USA students at a recent District 118 School Board Meeting. Behind him: State qualifiers Matthew Sherman, Seth Jameson, Revan Bailey, Jeryn Jumps; and DHS SkillsUSA chapter president Austin Brown.
This Thursday morning, April 10th, will be the second annual SKILLS USA CAREER FAIR in the Danville High School Fieldhouse. Lead Industrial Technology instructor Joe Wernert says last year they made it for juniors and seniors, with 25 vendors present. But this year it will be for sophomores, juniors, and seniors; one hour each from 9 AM to Noon; with 37 vendors already signed up.
Wernert says the short term goal is to show students what is available to them locally career wise, and how they can shape their high school experiences to learn more about it. But Wernert also says he doesn’t plan to run this career fair forever. Instead, he’d like to leave some current SKILLS USA students in charge.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: SKILLS USA chapter, the students that run that, will kind of take over some of this; and make it their own. And (they will) advocate for the community, and get kids seeing how the classes they take in high school will directly impact the decisions they make within their own community.
Wernert says he owes a lot of thanks for bringing in extra vendors this year to two parties in particular; Vermilion Advantage, and Congresswoman Robin Kelly’s office.
