NORFOLK – From agriculture to wind energy technology, high school freshmen had the opportunity to get a taste of career opportunities recently.

Over 520 students from 19 area high schools participated in 43 career sessions and experience an activity related to that career during Northeast Community College’s annual 9^th Grade Career Day. This included sessions in learning more about being an emergency medical technician/paramedic, building a computer in information technology, industrial controls in electromechanical, constructing a partial floor to a house in building construction, opportunities in the nursing field and one session entitled “Ewwww, Gross, but Awesome,” in biology.

Business/Accounting Instructor Sara Barritt incorporated a popular board game in her session.

“Playing Monopoly and recording transactions demonstrated to students how the events of the game affected their team’s success.” she said. “Whether it is Monopoly or real life, accounting tracks financial events and reports a business’s financial results.”

Over 50 members of the faculty, staff and students assisted in the day by either showcasing the programs to the students or help navigate them from session-to-session.

Amanda Nipp, vice president of student services, said the day is designed to give the students several options to consider as they begin to think about career choices.

“The 9th Grade Career Day is a chance for students to learn more about career options and all that Northeast Community College offers. We are pleased to have been able to provide them opportunities to choose and attend sessions based on their individual career interests.”

Schools participating in Northeast Community College’s 9^th Grade Career Day included Allen Consolidated, Bancroft-Rosalie, Battle Creek, Cedar Catholic – Hartington, Guardian Angels Central Catholic – West Point, Creighton, Homer, Lyons-Decatur Northeast, Madison, Newman Grove, Niobrara, Pierce, Randolph, Stanton, Verdigre, Wayne, West Point-Beemer, Winside, and Wisner-Pilger.