Shaw Learning Academy for Rising Professionals is in need of more sponsors for its Feb. 4 all-day student event at The Colonnade.
The event still needs a $1,500 business donation to cover the remaining cost of the academy.
“We need 25 business people for the 25 tables at the event,” said Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce President Martha Eaker.
Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School Work Based Learning Coordinator Bo Campbell said he hopes to see school administrators at the tables with students too.
About 170 work-based learning students from LFO, Ringgold High School and Heritage High School will attend the event.
The original event in 2013 was titled the Valuable Information from Professionals Academy. The name has changed since Shaw is sponsoring and coordinating the 2014 event.
Students will attend a lunch/etiquette class, a team-building and work relationships session, a managing one’s income and credit session, an interviewing skills and resumes session, a goal setting and time management session, a communications and social media session and a dress for success class. Students attending will be asked to wear business-casual clothes.
“The students and youth of today are tomorrow’s business people and workers,” said Shaw Industries Director of Payroll Services Suzan Gibson. “As an employer of the county, getting kids to understand work ethic … it’s a win-win. Shaw has a vested interest in the workforce of tomorrow.”
Partnership 2000 Coordinator Buffy Hemphill equally emphasized the importance of preparing for the workforce by connecting business partners with students.
“Utilizing our business partners to educate our students on soft skills is very important,” Hemphill said.
Campbell launched the original VIP event in 2013 and, due to demand, brought it back this year.
The original event was funded by a grant written by Catoosa County Schools Communications Director Marissa Brower. This year the grant is no longer available, so Campbell has been asking businesses to donate.
“Our kids at the end of last year responded well to VIP,” said Campbell. “They said the VIP event was the highlight of their work-based learning experience.”
Communities in Schools Director Jayme Elliott said her Catoosa County Performance Learning Center students need the training.
“This event will only help to improve their employability,” she said.