Chase County students get look at future careers

Students had an opportunity to gather information from representatives of the business community and area colleges at a March 16 career fair at Chase County Schools.
The career fair events were organized by Trent Herbert, school counselor, and Tyler Pribbeno, Community Development Director for the City of Imperial.
“The purpose of the fair was to show our students the abundance and variety of career opportunities available for them right here in their hometown and the large cross section of choices that exist right here in southwest Nebraska,” said Pribbeno.
The message they wanted to convey was, “why all of us and so many more are choosing to live and work here,” he said.
There were 26 businesses and colleges represented, all supplying information and handouts to students to help guide them toward future career decisions.
Pribbeno was manning a booth, as well, with community development opportunities and the City of Imperial.
“I came in with high expectations and our students exceeded those expectations,” Pribbeno said.
He said he was pleasantly surprised at the level of participation from the students.
Students could be seen engaging in meaningful conversations with potential employers and colleges discussing the career opportunities available to them in southwest Nebraska, he said.
Career Fair returns
This was the first career fair since November 2019 because of COVID.
“Normally we have held the career fair in November in the past. But with COVID concerns at the start of the year we decided to have it in the spring,” Herbert said.
“We were also curious if a spring career fair might help students be more interested in looking for summer jobs, community service opportunities or connecting with people to help them with their plans after high school,” he added.
After receiving feedback from this fair, it will be decided whether to keep the career fair in the spring or move it back to November.
“We did have a strong turnout for this career fair,” Herbert said.
The opportunities for high school students for summer jobs, volunteerism or future plans after graduation were varied and plentiful.
Some local businesses offered summer jobs for students such as Titan Machinery.
Representative Kelton Fisher said they offer not just summer jobs, but career options and sponsorship programs to pursue careers in sales, parts and as sales and service technicians.
Rodolfo Aragon, safety director for Imperial Beef, said they do offer summer programs for students to gain experience.
“Working at a facility like this is more than just looking after and caring for cattle. We want to change the perception of the types of careers that exist at Imperial Beef,” he said.
Other positions that are needed at a feed lot are welders, accountants, business office personnel, mechanics and animal nutrition development.
 Another business at the fair that offers more than what most people see in the field is Black Hills Energy.
They don’t offer summer jobs to students because of liabilities for workers under the age of 18.
But positions available in this industry include public relations, government relations, engineers, accountants, safety positions, lawyers, service specialists, and with the current Russian war concerns about utilities being hacked, IT positions and cyber security are  viable options, said Craig Loeffler, service specialist.
Steve Guernsy, BHE service specialist and ambassador of public relations and school events, said they do offer scholarship reimbursements for college in some areas of study.
Chief Ryan Wisnieski with the Imperial Police Department and officer Chris Bustillos spoke with a number of students about different law enforcement positions.
Bustillos’ canine companion Jago, a German Shepherd, loved the attention and made sure he got plenty of it under the watchful eye of his handler.
Wisnieski said he often suggests that students begin with a degree in business and move into law enforcement so they always have something to fall back on.
SFG Brant Scherbarth of McCook and SGT Dylan Petersen of Sidney were on hand talking to students about the opportunities with the Nebraska Army National Guard.
Scherbarth shared some career opportunities the NANG can offer such as mechanics, engineers, truck drivers, military police, medics and airborne infantry, just to name a few.
NANG pays 100% state tuition for Nebraska colleges, said Petersen.
“You can enlist at age 17 with parental permission if that’s a goal,” he said.
Pastor Brian Boisselle, Crossroads Wesleyan Church, provided a booth introducing the options of going into full-time ministry and associated areas.
He explained the steps necessary to go into a career of service to God, as well as volunteer positions being developed to introduce youths to ministry leadership positions.
These booths barely touched the surface of all the information and encouragement provided by representatives at the career fair.
Senior Joel Alácon visited a large variety of booths with interest sin banking, journalism/newspaper office, diesel mechanics and law enforcement, more specifically State Patrol—which he said was his favorite.
“I think it’s better to have several open doors vs. closed,” he said.
Other businesses and colleges at the career fair were Frenchman Valley Coop, Imperial Yost Farm Supply, Imperial Manor, Chase County Community Hospital and Clinics, Pinnacle Bank, Harchelroad Motors Inc. managed by Wolf Auto Imperial, 21st Century, Imperial Credit Union, Upper Republican Natural Resources District, Viaero Wireless, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Red Willow Chemical, Nebraska Army National Guard, University of Nebraska-Kearney, UNL, Central Community College, Northwest Kansas Technical College-Goodland, Kansas, Mid-Plains Community College, Pivot Electric, The Imperial Republican and Allo Communications.
Afternoon seminar
A seminar was held after lunch and went very well, said Herbert.
The focus was financial advice from local bankers and business people.
Jill Bauerle organized speakers Carrie Terryberry, Theresa Russell and Sam McNair.
Terryberry discussed things to be aware of when renting apartments or houses.
Russell covered the importance of establishing good credit, and what to do if you lose your credit card or if your bank information is compromised.
McNair talked about how insurance claims work and what to do when filing a claim.
“All three talked about the connection between each of their areas and how much they work with each other,” Herbert said.
They also addressed real life situations they have dealt with or that came up in questions.
The speakers encouraged the students to start preparing for becoming adults and finding people in those areas that they can trust, he added.