MiCareerQuest Southwest Career Discovery event is going virtual!

Eighth-grade students across southwest Michigan will virtually explore dozens of careers during the sixth annual MiCareerQuest Southwest event on Wednesday, May 12, 2021.

During the virtual event, students will interact with local professionals and industry experts to discover the abundant career possibilities available across three in-demand industry pathways: Health Care; Engineering, Manufacturing & Professional Trades; and Information Technology.

Thanks to a grant from Kalamazoo RESA’s (KRESA) generous partners at Stryker, it secured a contract with a virtual events platform allowing the vital career discovery event to continue despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are so happy that we are still able to provide southwest Michigan students with these exciting experiences this year,” said Jason Luke, KRESA Career & Technical Education Career Awareness & Exploration director. “The event serves as a catalyst for area youth to discover self- and option-awareness in a fun, experiential setting. MiCareerQuest Southwest Virtual is sure to be a safer alternative this year while still engaging young people to discover the possibilities of their future.”

Many representatives from local business and industries will be in attendance, including:

• Bronson Healthcare Group
• CSM Group
• Kalamazoo Valley Community College
• Michigan State Police
• Miller-Davis
• Western Michigan University
• Wightman
• zSpace
• And many more!

The MiCareerQuest Southwest career exploration and awareness event is sponsored in part by workforce development organizations Southwest Michigan First, Michigan Works! Southwest, Calhoun Area Career Center and KRESA.

“MiCareerQuest Southwest supports both employers, by filling talent gaps, and youth, by facilitating career exploration by providing students hands-on opportunities to engage with local employers, ”said Ashley Iovieno, Michigan Works! Southwest business services manager. “Michigan Works! Southwest is excited for the virtual MiCareerQuest Southwest and our ongoing partnership in and sponsorship of this high impact career exploration event.”

Employers who are interested in participating should complete the MiCareerQuest Southwest Employer Commitment Form by March 30 and someone will contact you soon regarding next steps.

Learn more about MiCareerQuest Southwest at micareerquestsw.org.