A story from the Owensboro Messenger Inquirer
More than 350 Owensboro Middle School students will be spending the day Thursday on the Kentucky Wesleyan College campus learning about business, economics and careers.
The program is sponsored by Junior Achievement and will be taught by KWC students and faculty members.
“This is a unique experience,” Tricia Ahart, Daviess County program manager for Junior Achievement of West Kentucky, said Monday. “It’s the first time we’ve used college students and faculty to teach our Economics for Success curriculum.”
This is spring break week at KWC, she said, and “the students are giving up their spring break to teach middle school students.”
Ahart said the college students are working to obtain a service learning certificate, a new program offered by KWC, when they graduate.
“We’re hoping to do this every year,” she said.
Ahart said the day will include sessions on career interest, work readiness, budgeting, self assessment and career opportunities.
Most of the students who are leading the classes aren’t from Owensboro, she said.
“I’ve asked them to tell their stories,” Ahart said. “I want them to tell the middle school students why they chose Kentucky Wesleyan and their majors. It’s going to be a good, well-rounded experience for the middle school students.”
The program will “educate our youth to be more financially literate and what better way to do so than with local college students and faculty,” she said.
Tara Leachman, a KWC accounting student, recruited more than 30 of her fellow students and five support faculty for the program, Ahart said.
OMS students will go through a series of six rotations, moving from class to class every 45 minutes, learning about such things as soft skills, career clusters and financial success.
The event is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Keith Lawrence, 270-691-7301