High school students gain skills and ideas through Summer Career Exploration Camps

Virginia Western Community College, in partnership with Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS), made an intentional effort to introduce rising 10th, 11th and 12th-grade students to multiple career pathways through Summer Career Exploration Camps. This four-week effort culminated in graduation ceremonies on Saturday, Aug. 3, at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.

Students learn how to design boutonnieres during the Horticulture, Floral Design, and Community Beautification camp.

Organizers focused on dynamically introducing career pathways for students through one-week career immersion camps with Virginia Western Community College Corporate Training Division at the helm, combined with support from many area organizations and employers, the city, and the school district.

“In addition to all the learning that took place in these career content areas, students gained valuable workplace readiness skills through the experience of attending camp,” said Regina Cook, who is corporate training lead, workforce development specialist, and organizational development strategist at Virginia Western. “We saw many ways in which the camps got the wheels turning in students’ heads about how their passions could translate into potential careers.”

Camps spanned a range of fields:

Introductory Culinary
Advanced Culinary
Artificial Intelligence
Biotechnology
Criminal Justice
Entrepreneurship
Event Planning
Mechatronics & Manufacturing
Social Work & Counseling
Horticulture, Floral Design, and Community Beautification
Healthcare/Culinary — Dietary Technician

By the month’s conclusion, 48 students received Camp Certificates of Completion, and seven also received their ServSafe Food Handler Certification. The students achieved 73 Certificates of Completion across the 11 camps.

Campers studying Culinary and Dietary Technician topics spent time in Virginia Western's kitchens at the Claude Moore Education Complex. — Campers studying Culinary and Dietary Technician topics spent time in Virginia Western’s kitchens at the Claude Moore Education Complex.

This year’s camps built on the foundation of two culinary camps in the summer of 2023 spearheaded by Virginia Western’s Culinary Program head, Chef James Zeisler, and Brian Wells, The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center’s general manager who is also the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association’s Roanoke chapter president. Contributing partners included SP Plus (Roanoke City Parks & Recreation) and Roanoke City Public Schools.

This year, the cross-community planning team included Carilion Clinic, Roanoke City Public Schools and the corporate/professional training team at Virginia Western. The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center provided the facility and refreshments for the graduation event, which offered a job/supporter fair to help make career connections between program supporters and campers and their families.

“We are thankful for our partnership with Virginia Western Community College to provide our students with a head start on their careers. Strong partnerships with local community organizations, higher education institutions, and businesses are vital to ensure our students gain a resume of skills and experiences while still in school,” said Dr. Verletta White, superintendent of Roanoke City Public Schools. “We know our students stay safe when they are connected to productive and meaningful activities, and this program provides our students with hands-on experience as they prepare for their future.”

Ashton Abajace, 17, a rising senior at Patrick Henry High School, took part in event planning and culinary camps. “I am so grateful that I allowed myself to have some courage to go and try out these camps,” Ashton said. “All of my teachers did a fantastic job of putting together extremely informative and insightful courses. Learning should be fun, and I think that these camps had that figured out from the start.”

Program Instruction and Supporters:

The Roanoke City Police Department SWAT Team makes a presentation during the camps.

The Instructional Team for the Summer Career Exploration Camps: Clark BeCraft, Mandi Boltinghouse, Tina Coffey, Regina Cook, Jacob Corvin, Jeff Dodson, Skylar Gentry, Jan Hendrickson, Richard Henegar, Megan Jackson, Carol King, Heather Lindberg, Hanna Martin, Kimberly Mattson, George Studtmann, David Vandergrift and James Zeisler.

Summer Career Exploration Camp Supporters: