Showcase Programs
Showcase programs are concurrent sessions that receive special recognition as exemplary or cutting-edge career development practices or programming.
Tuesday 10:15 - 11:30 am
C9 Beyond Service: Using Service Learning as a Career and Workforce Development Strategy [H, P]
When students engage in service learning they tend to get higher grades, have higher attendance rates, and are more likely to pursue and complete postsecondary education. However, service learning can also be an effective tool in exposing students to potential careers and preparing them for success in the workplace. In this presentation, participants will learn about Lead to Succeed, an industry-driven youth leadership development program in which high school and college students work together in teams on high-level service learning projects that support the critical needs of local non-profit organizations. Projects have been specifically engineered to expose students to the careers that will be most in demand and develop the skills that employers will most need. Many of these projects will focus on the water industry. Hear from a panel representing K-12 Educators, Post-Secondary Educators, and Business/Community Leaders on how they have partnered together to provide this innovative program to over 200 students in the Metro Milwaukee region.
Karin Gratz, Educational Consultant, CommUNITY Connections Consulting, Milwaukee, WI
Tuesday 11:45 am – 1:00 pm
C31 Spider Road Trips: Connecting Current Students, Alumni, and Employers (Showcase Program) [H, P]
The University of Richmond’s Career Development Center (CDC) coordinates four formal industry-specific career exploratory Spider Road Trips each year. The trips allow a group of students to visit alumni in a variety of work settings to help current students hear diverse career insights and experience a range of work place settings. This workshop focuses on the creation and execution of these programs with time for brainstorming similar programs for your specific population's interests.
Joslyn Bedell, Assistant Director, Career Development Center, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
Tuesday 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm
C63 Collaborating for Success: A Dislocated Worker Training Model (Showcase Program) [H, P, A]
This session will present a collaborative model of successful development and delivery of training for dislocated workers. A cross functional team of college administrators, state employment and economic development staff, and regional Workforce Investment Board staff researched and co-designed training for high pay, high demand occupations in Central Minnesota. Key elements of the successful partnership will be presented, along with valuable lessons learned.
Rebecca Best, Dean of Workforce and Economic Development, Central Lakes College, Brainerd, MN
Wednesday 9:45 – 11:00 am
C86 Developing a Career Component for Students with Developmental Disabilities at Elmhurst Life Skills Academy (Showcase Program) [M, H, P, A]
Elmhurst Life Skills Academy at Elmhurst College (ELSA) is a four-year college like program for young adults with developmental disabilities. Work experience and career exploration are some of the program's key focuses. Now in its fifth year, ELSA has developed its career strand to include various community-based work experiences from informational interviews to internships. Learn more about the ELSA program, and how its careers has helped to better prepare students for work.
Kristin Boxall, Career Development Coach, Elmhurst Life Skills Academy, Elmhurst, IL and Rob Graber, Edcuational Coach and Job Coach, Elmhurst Life Skills Academy, Elmhurst, IL
CONGRATULATIONS to the Careers Conference 2009 Showcase Award Winners! To see the Careers Conference 2009 Showcase Award Winners, click here.