Students from Jackson County High School and East Jackson High Schools recently connected with representatives from 38 businesses, industries, and post-secondary institutions during a college and career fair hosted at Empower College and Career Center in Jefferson, Georgia.

The April 1 event exposed 9th-12th grade students to various career and college opportunities. Students had the chance to explore a range of career fields and higher education options, connecting directly with industry professionals, college representatives, and career mentors.

HireSmart Cares, a nonprofit focused on workforce development, supported the event by providing Chick-fil-A box lunches and drinks for all vendors participating in the fair.

HireSmart Cares was founded by Mark and Anne Lackey with a mission of “equipping the next generation.” The nonprofit invests in youth development initiatives particularly focused on agricultural education and trades skills. The organization helps young people find successful career paths without taking on burdensome college debt by providing scholarships, grants for entrepreneurial ventures, funding for job skills programs, travel expenses, job preparedness training, and career guidance. HireSmart believes in creating pathways to success for today’s youth to become tomorrow’s leaders.

“Career exposure is vital for our students to understand opportunities after high school and this event was a great way for our students to explore those opportunities,” said Kate Wilson, Work-Based Learning & Jackson Student Leadership Team Coordinator for Jackson County Schools. “Many students were able to connect with businesses they didn’t know existed and find business and other paths that they plan to pursue post graduation. Overall, this was a very successful first fair and we look forward to the event’s growth in the future.”