When the rumble of engines and wail of police sirens echoed through the Crossroads Arena, it wasn’t a high-speed pursuit but rather the sounds of opportunity. This year’s North MS College & Career Expo was a dynamic event designed to give students an immersive look at the careers and educational paths available right in their own backyard.
The event, organized by Alcorn School District Career Coaches Taylor Johnson and Rebecca Lewis, drew over 750 students from five school districts, multiple homeschooling organizations, and Northeast Mississippi Adult Education programs. Approximately 80 vendors, including regional institutes of higher learning, local industry leaders, and representatives from public service departments, engaged students with hands-on experiences and demonstrations meant to inspire the next generation.
The event aimed to expand students’ knowledge of available educational, workforce, and military options in Northeast Mississippi, with a variety of machinery, equipment, and interactive activities showcasing the real-life tasks professionals encounter in their fields.
Among the crowd-favorite booths was the ACE Fiber station, where students got to practice lineman skills while wearing protective gloves. At the Caterpillar station, students operated heavy machinery through a virtual reality simulation. Foster's Barber School set up an actual barbershop where students could experience a professional lineup, and LP Studio, LLC offered an opportunity for students to have a free professional headshot taken for use in resumes and applications. Law enforcement and emergency response teams also made a strong impression. The Corinth Police and Fire Departments and MS Highway Patrol displayed some of their essential equipment, and multiple branches of the military were present to discuss career opportunities with interested students with the Marines recruitment booth hosting a pull-ups fitness challenge.
The Alcorn School District is proud to have coordinated the Northeast MS Career Expo and look forward to expanding the event in the future in order to expose more students to potential opportunities to #LearnLeadEXCEL in their future!
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