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Blue Jackets, Big Dreams: One Senior’s Life-Changing Trip to Indianapolis
Tilly Anderson had never been to Indianapolis before. She'd never experienced anything quite like walking into the FFA National Convention and seeing thousands of blue FFA jackets filling the massive space. "It was like this overwhelming feeling of brotherhood and love," said the Madison County High School senior. "I always hear about these experiences, and…
Grant Helps East Jackson STEM Students Engineer Sustainability Solutions
Students in East Jackson High School’s sustainability program, part of the school’s broader STEM initiative, are tackling real environmental challenges. They are designing composting systems, analyzing air quality, and experimenting with solar energy to understand how sustainable solutions take shape in the real world. With the help of a $1,849 grant from HireSmart Cares, the…
Auto-Darkening Helmets Transform Student Welding Experience
HireSmart Cares Grant Equips Madison County Welding Program with Industry-Standard Equipment Madison County high school welding students are experiencing a significant improvement in their learning environment this year, thanks to a HireSmart Cares grant that brought professional-grade equipment into the classroom. The nonprofit awarded funds to purchase 36 Lincoln Electric Viking 1740 auto-darkening welding helmets…
Professional Workbenches Transform Learning Environment for Madison County Trades Students
Josh Daniel's ag mechanics shop doesn't have a classroom feel. It's a work environment where kids hammer and saw and learn hands-on skills that will help them find trades careers — or just be more handy around the house. And now, even Daniel's separate teaching room at the Broad River College and Career Academy in…
16-Year-Old Plans Mobile Welding Service for Local Farmers
The student debt crisis has pushed many families to rethink the traditional college path. Madison County High School senior Gavin Heath never had to rethink it. He's already on a different track entirely, building welding skills and business experience that will launch him into a debt-free career straight out of high school. The 16-year-old is…
HireSmart Cares Grant Gives New Wings to Thomson High School Drone Program
The first time students at Thomson High School pick up a drone controller, their hands are tense and uncertain. By the time they master complex flight courses, they realize they are learning much more than how to fly. They are uncovering career paths they never knew existed in their rural Georgia community. Under the guidance…
Teen’s Creativity Pays Off in HireSmart Cares Book Design Contest
Sophia Grier earned the $500 top prize for a recent book cover design contest at Madison County High School. The sophomore created a cover for "The Hustle Handbook: Lessons They Don't Teach You IN SCHOOL, but Life Will," by Mark Lackey, Co-founder of HireSmart Cares, a local nonprofit focused on workforce development. Lackey's autobiography details…