On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Seward High School hosted its third annual Career Day, an event aimed at connecting students with potential career paths and community partners. The fair featured a diverse collection of 35 vendors representing various industries, from healthcare to technology, providing students with valuable insights into the workforce.
During the event, Abigail Schilling and I spoke with several participants, including local business owners and students. Specifically, an employee at Major Marine emphasized the importance of engaging with young people. “It’s crucial for us to show students the opportunities available in our community. We want them to see that they can build their careers without having to leave Seward,” she said.
Many of the vendors coming to Career Day have various reasons for their attendance. Seward Library enjoys participating because “[they] love engaging with the youth and showing them new opportunities they have.” Additionally, Seward Properties isn’t looking for hires but enjoys talking to the local students and showing them the opportunities that they have, specifically in the real estate industry.
Students also shared their experiences. Quinn Humbert said, “I learned to get into most of them, you have to go to college for 3-4 years. Career Day benefits me by letting me see all the opportunities that I could have later in life in one place.” The fair not only provided networking opportunities but also served as a platform for students to ask questions and gather information about various career paths. Avery Staggs talked to Joey Smith at Seward Air Tours, leaving with the knowledge of the requirements necessary to receive a commercial pilot license.
The event also featured a diverse group of vendors. Each vendor shared their experiences and insights, making the event not only informative but also engaging for the students. Maggie Fleming from Kenai Fjords Tours expressed her commitment to the community, stating, “We’ve hired students when they were 16 and now are managers.” This long-standing relationship highlights the importance of local businesses investing in the future of their community.
Seward High School has also openly welcomed an esteemed alumni for the past three years. Malia Hewitt (class of 2021) is currently employed at Seward Chamber of Commerce. She commented, “I think it was great to be able to talk to the kids in high school, seeing the interest in the job pool and seeing how many companies showed up for the event, and talk to kids about the visitor center and what we do and what our purpose is. A lot of kids didn’t know what we do here, so it was nice to get that information out.”
The students at Seward High appreciate the members of the community coming to help advise and inform them about career options. The high school looks forward to continue the partnership in the future.
