Local Businesses Welcome Buncombe Students

During Students@Work week, 1,200 middle and high school students spent a day exploring career paths in advanced manufacturing, hospitality & tourism, STEM, and healthcare.

Article By: Benjamin Rickert, Communications Dept.

Preparing for tomorrow means trying on careers for size! That’s why nearly 1,200 Buncombe middle and high school students recently spent a day alongside local professionals exploring career paths in advanced manufacturing, hospitality & tourism, STEM, and healthcare. The statewide Students@Work Week gave 46,000 young learners in North Carolina first-hand experiences in top industries.

“Students@Work focuses on career awareness and gives students an up-close look at the many careers that are offered in Western North Carolina,” said Career & Technical Education (CTE) Curriculum Specialist Lisa Roberts. “They took part in worksite visits, listened to speakers, and toured facilities. From chocolate making, medical packaging, and kayak building to satellite exploration, hotel management and medical prosthetics, students explored careers that they were previously unaware of and now have some new ideas about what is possible for them in the future.”

North Buncombe High students stand together at the WNC Farmer's Market.

In Asheville, North Buncombe High students went behind the scenes at the WNC Farmer’s Market to see the operation in action. As they toured the facility and greenhouses, staff emphasized that the world of farming is more than the act of growing crops. Students learned that many careers and industries support the field, including food safety, agricultural science, business management, sales and marketing, and environmental education.

“We are always eager to expose students to the career of agriculture,” said marketing specialist Beth Frith of the WNC Farmer’s Market. “As farmland acreage decreases, the focus on agriculture as a career becomes even more critical for the next generation of workers. It’s a business that won’t become obsolete, because we will need better and more efficient ways of feeding the population.”

Over three days, Buncombe students met professionals from over 60 businesses and gained valuable insight into the careers available to them upon graduation. For example, A.C. Reynolds High students received a hands-on lesson in creating apparel at Diamond Brand. Using the sewing and assembly equipment, students created bags to take home at the end of the day! Meanwhile, North Buncombe Middle students toured Asheville's French Broad Chocolate factory and Enka Middle students explored the Omni Grove Park Inn.

Ms. Roberts worked alongside interim CTE director Ms. Tina Thorpe to organize this year's Students@Work efforts.

“Buncombe County Schools is very appreciative of all the business partners that make this annual event exciting for our students,” Roberts said.

Students were welcomed by the following local businesses:
ASI
A-B Tech
ABB
Aloft/Chestnut
Appalachian Tool
Asheville Tourists
Atlas Precision
AVL Technologies
Biltmore Farms
Cane Creek Cycling
Care Partners Orthotics
Citi Bakery
Crowne Plaza
DHHS
Diamond Brand
DoubleTree/Corner Kitchen
Duke Energy
French Broad Chocolcate
Fun Depot
GE Aviation
Hampton Inn
Homewood Suites
Immedion
Liquid Logic Kayaks
MAHEC
MB Haynes
Mills Manufacturing
Mission Health
Omni Grove Park
Printpak Medical
Silverline
US Cellular Center
Vanderbilt Children's
Village Hotel
WNC Farmers Market

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Interested in hosting students at your business during next year’s Students@Work Week? Email Lisa.Roberts@bcsemail.org.

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