(Photo by Shelley Hanson) John Marshall High School students, from left Sophia Dunham, Avery Murphy and Mya Berisford talk with B.M. Spurr School of Practical Nursing instructors Gwen Giffen and Melissa Mason on Thursday during the Career Technical Education Fair.

GLEN DALE – John Marshall High School hosted its second annual Career Technical Education Fair on Thursday for students interested in pursuing education, training or jobs in fields such as nursing, the building trades and more.

Melissa Mason, a nursing instructor with the B.M. Spurr School of Practical Nursing at WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale, was among the vendors who had tables set up, trying to recruit young people into their field.

“We can always use nurses. They are vital to our community and vital to our hospital,” she said.

The program at B.M. Spurr lasts one year and provides training for people wanting to become licensed practical nurses.

“They get to experience actual hands-on patient care,” she said. “Right within that first quarter they are out there taking care of patients. So there’s a lot of hands-on experience to deal with different disease processes and illnesses, and just in the communication prospect of dealing with a patient.”

Mason said most of her students are very compassionate about the job of caring for people and wanting to pursue a nursing career.

Another vendor, Toni and Guy Academy of Cosmetology, which is a franchise at the Penn Commercial Business/Technical School in Washington, Pa., was set up at the fair.

“We get so many students from West Virginia all the time,” said Gina Olmo, admissions representative. “Actually, John Marshall does a field trip here.”

Olmo said the cosmetology program lasts nine months. The esthetics program is three months as well as the nail technician program.

“All the programs we teach, we have lifetime placement as well,” she said, referring to help finding a job.

Melanie Knutsen, career development counselor for Marshall County Schools, said the fair was mainly for students in CTE programs, but other juniors and seniors were welcomed to attend.

There were about 34 vendors including tech schools, businesses, organizations, the military and more.

“Students are able to talk to them about careers in whatever business it is,” she said. “I appreciate the staff of the CTE programs and the staff of John Marshall for bringing students in to experience it.”

Participating organizations included West Virginia Northern Community College, United States Air Force, Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal, Oglebay, Edington Studio, West Virginia Laborers Union Apprenticeship, Appliance Connection, Touchstone Advanced Composites, Project Best, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Hill International, Tri-State Ford, Napa Modern Auto Parts, Mull Group, WesBanco Bank, B.M. Spurr School of Practical Nursing, Toni and Guy Cosmetology/Penn Commercial, IBEW Local 141, Marshall County Health Department, Victory Chevrolet, Ironworkers Local 549, Williams Energy, 84 Lumber, Walmart, JMR Land Surveying/Marshall County Surveyor, American Electric Power Mitchell Plant, United Bank, Westlake Chemical, Carpenters, Cement Masons and Plasterers, Sheet Metal Workers, West Liberty University College of Liberal and Creative Arts/Digital Media Design, WTRF TV Channel 7 and Moundsville Water Department.