SALINEVILLE — The Utica Shale Academy is giving its students an opportunity to plan for their future by hosting a career day activity this month.

Utica Shale Career Day will be held Feb. 19 throughout the school day and students in grades 10 through 12 can meet with representatives from local trades as they embark on joining the workforce. The community school works with grades 7 through 12 in a mix of blended learning and hands-on education and provides career-technical opportunities from AC/DC electric to welding. Transition specialist Ashley Canann is organizing the career day and said it will focus on sophomores to seniors, but hopefully it will be the first of many such events to come.

“There are three parts of the day,” she said. “One is the student spotlight, where the students will have an opportunity to show off their skills in the trades to the companies. The second will include company presentations, and students will rotate among all the companies. In each session, they will learn more about the companies, jobs available and skills or soft skills needed for employment. The last part will be mock interviews, and juniors and seniors will have an opportunity to have a mock interview with the companies involved and gain valuable feedback from them.”

Canann said purpose of the career day was to prepare the students for a career in the trades, but also to learn more about local companies and how to become successfully employed. Companies participating include Ascent Resources, ONEi, API Ohio, Diversified Energy, Ergon, Encino Energy, MPLX and Williams, in addition to the Ohio Oil and Gas Association.

She noted that she was inspired to create the career day activity as another way to prepare students for employment.

“Our students are already learning at Utica the physical skills needed to get a job, but we wanted to support our students even further by teaching them soft skills needed for employment and give them an opportunity to learn more from actual companies in our area.”

Canann said she hopes to continue career day on an annual basis.

Meanwhile, USA provides programming in partnership with Youngstown State University to expose students in grades 7 and 8 to career-tech opportunities while grades 9 through 12 undergo a blend of online education through the Virtual Learning Academy by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center with hands-on learning in various trades, including megatronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, AC/DC electric, programmable logic controllers, diesel mechanics and horticulture.

Opportunities are available to train students and adults. For information, contact the academy at (330) 679-2000 or visit uticashaleschool.com.