Connections: CTE and Chamber of Commerce
Have you tapped into the resources your chamber of commerce can provide to your students and CTE Program? Maumelle High School has discovered a great resource in the chamber. By gaping into this partnership you will find ideas you can take back to your own community, such as strengthening your relationship with industry partners, showcasing your students' work, and building a greater support structure for your program and students.
Alicia Gillen, Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce’s executive director, has a clear focus and plan for building a relationship between industry members and high school seniors. Gillen, often organizes business luncheons for high school seniors and has a great working relationship with CTE teachers and administrators. These seniors are encouraged register at the beginning of the year for the luncheon that best fits their interests. Business selections range from distribution, manufacturing, healthcare, and post-secondary schools. Each luncheon event consists of a delectably catered meal and engaging roundtables with a least one chamber associate at each. The event facilitates the interaction between students and business associates. Students are able to learn how to dress, converse and dine when in professional surroundings. Toward the end of the luncheon, each roundtable states what key ideas were discussed and students are given a virtual tour of the industry.
The tour exposes students to an assortment of career choices and affords them the opportunity to listen to ask questions about the business industry. This particular portion of the luncheon is an eye-opening experience for the students as they learn about the importance of being punctual, adhering to dress codes, and wearing identification badges; all things they loathe about high school! Oftentimes, industry partners contact the chamber seeking ways to become more involved with the local schools. Recently, the Lion’s Club contacted executive director, Alicia Gillen with the exact request. Through the discussions that followed, the Maumelle Community Youth Showcase was established. The showcase invites all grade-level students from local schools (public, private, and charter) to showcase projects or ideas they have to improve the environment or community. Three local DECA members worked directly with the Lion’s Club to gain sponsorships from local businesses to reward students for their hard work and categories were created for each age group with cash prizes. The high school division winner was a FCCLA and DECA member who won $500 for her DECA Financial Literacy project called Check Your Future.
Additionally, the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce hosts academic signing nights to celebrate students who are receiving scholarships for their educational achievements. The chamber also announces its own personal scholarship winner, in which the scholarship award is funded by donations from supporters. These signing events illustrate commitment to our students from our chamber business associates. In most communities, athletic departments gain ample publicity. We are exceptionally appreciative of the work our chamber does to ensure that our academic accomplishments are also broadcasted. If your school is not in direct communication with your local chamber, what are you waiting for? Consider encouraging your chamber to launch an educational committee to see what events best fit your community.