Photo by Joselyn King Wheeling Deputy Police Chief Josh Sanders speaks to students during a career fair Wednesday at Wheeling Park High School.

WHEELING – High school students viewed the variety of careers available to them in the Ohio Valley during the Wheeling Park High School Career Fair on Wednesday.

Karin Butyn, public relations director for Ohio County Schools, assisted in organizing the event.

“We have really expanded the job fair the past two years to really start exposing students to all the opportunities that are in the valley,” she explained. “We are really trying to get kids to understand there are great career opportunities in the valley, and we are trying to get them to stay.”

There were 53 employers who turned out for the event. Among them were the Wheeling police and fire departments, the Valley Grove Volunteer Fire Department, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army National Guard.

West Virginia state agencies participating included the Division of Corrections and the Division of Rehabilitative Services. Representatives from West Liberty University, Wheeling University and Marshall University were present, as were those from WVU Medicine, Play N’ Stay Pet Camp and Goodwill.

Nonprofit agencies “need employees too,” Butyn continued.

“Connecting our soon-to-be graduates to service opportunities is definitely a focus for us,” she said.

Stephanie Hockenberry, growth and retention manager for Ohio County, assists the “Reshaping Impact For Students and Employers” (RISE) program at West Liberty University, and RISE was interested in setting up a larger career fair to connect students with the community.

She contacted WPHS Principal Meredith Dailer to discuss such an event, and Dailer told her of the school’s upcoming job fair.

“We did some collaboration,” Hockenberry continued.

College students were welcome at the career fair from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. High school students – including some from both The Linsly School and Wheeling Central Catholic – then talked to employers from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

“It was a collaborative effort, and really shows the level of group work and community in Wheeling, and I’m really excited about it.” she said.

First responders expressed a need to attract a new generation of employees into their profession.

“The number of people who take our test has decreased over the years,” explained Deric Jamison, assistant chief for the Wheeling Fire Department. “We’re trying to attend job fairs and do those things to increase our numbers.

“If people just pay attention to our website and social media, we try to announce when the next test is coming. We can always use good people.”

Staff Sgt. Brandon Taylor, a recruiter for the West Virginia Army National Guard, said he was among the many who joined the military following terrorist attacks on America in 2001. But he added he “wasn’t sure” today’s youth were as interested in public service.

“I always think there is a call – a call to service,” Taylor said. “I really do think that’s a thing. It just comes in waves.”

Sophie Beever at Play N’ Stay Pet Camp said a number of students came through and took flyers. It was the service provider’s first time at a career fair.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how many applications we get,” she said. “I think everybody has trouble finding quality employees sometimes, and we’re actually starting into our busy season and we’re going to have to ramp up.”

Kia Blake at Elite Academy said there still are students applying to the cosmetology school.

“I think it has to be a passion,” she said. “You have to have the drive and the creativity to want to focus on this career.”

Amanda Lengyel, project manager for JD&E Construction Services, addressed young females wanting to go into the trades.

Some she spoke with last year are enrolled in carpentry classes at WPHS, and they stopped by to speak with her on Thursday.

“I think that’s just great,” she said. “We’ve had some other ladies stop by and talk with us, and even more importantly there have been some gentlemen too. They wanted to talk to us and see how we supported the ladies.”