More than 1,000 Catoosa County sixth-grade students from Lakeview Middle, Ringgold Middle and Heritage Middle schools took part in Careers on the Move at the Colonnade Nov. 2. The annual event is sponsored by the Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee.
“We want to expose students to career opportunities,” said Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee Chair Dr. Ginger Mathis, of Georgia Northwestern Technical College. “Students go to each station to find out about careers. They learn that they need math and science in the work field.”
Professionals in attendance represented the Georgia State Patrol; Angel EMS; U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Ringgold Telephone Company; Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force; Little Debbie; Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s commercial truck driving program; the Air National Guard and Channel 3 Eyewitness News.
Georgia State Patrol’s Cpl. Kris Hemphill told students about the importance of staying in school, staying off drugs and doing the right thing. He is a 1990 graduate of Ringgold High School and joined the Georgia State Patrol 18 years ago. He said to be a peace officer someone must be at least 21 years of age and train for 33 weeks. Hemphill patrols Catoosa and Whitfield counties.
“I concentrate on speeding, seat belts, red light violations and crash investigation,” said Hemphill, who drives a 2008 Dodge Charger. “We only investigate traffic crashes. I have a laptop with traffic crashes and incident reports in my patrol car. I have a radio, lights, radar to measure speed and digital cameras. My car is an excellent pursuit vehicle. It registers 160 miles per hour.”