Schools
HHS Students Hear Environmental Job Choices
The Healdsburg AAUW and Rotary of Healdsburg join forces "to increase students' awareness of exciting career opportunities."
Thirty students representing all four grades filed into the Band Room to attend the final Career Choices program on Tuesday morning.
Billed as “Environmental Initiatives for Future Jobs,” the program is a collaboration between the (AAUW) and the .
“Career Choices," the website states, "helps students at Healdsburg High School learn about potential careers and what skills and experiences are needed to obtain jobs and careers of their choice.”
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In 2008, Judy Edmonds and Dee McGuffey created the Career Choices program in an effort to shore up high school resources lost to budget cuts. The program has been an unqualified success.
Along the way, a partnership with the Rotary of Healdsburg increased participation to reach hundreds of students each year.
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More than 375 students have attended the 10 programs held this year. It is now chaired by Leslie and Todd Everett -- and the panels now meet in the large band room on the HHS campus.
“We’re thrilled with the way Leslie and Todd have grown the program,” Edmonds said.
“For example, when we did the health care panel, we didn’t just talk about doctors and nurses,” said Edmond. “We gave them an overview and introduction of what’s out there, the size of the field.”
Leslie Everett said the volunteer panelists help too.
“They volunteer beyond the program to speak one-on-one with the students,” she said. “Our panelists are generous with telling the kids the basics.”
Tuesday’s panelists included:
--Rody Jonas, an HHS graduate, and owner of Pure Power Solutions, a company that designs and installs solar and energy efficiency systems;
--Debra Sands-Miller, Curriculum Development Specialist with Santa Rosa Junior College’s Green Technology and Water Resources Program.
--Keith Baker, an environmental scientist at TetraTech, an environmental consulting firm.
Everett was the moderator for the discussion.
"I want to know how [things] are made from scratch," an HHS senior named Maileth said as her reason for attending. “I want to know how everything works."
Maileth said she plans to attend Santa Rosa Junior College after graduation. She acknowledged she’s wavering in her current career choice of criminal justice.
“That may change,” she admitted with a smile.
Karla, also a senior, said she “wants to know more about green environmental choices and global warming.”
She, too, will attend SRJC in the fall and plans to study nutrition.
After introducing the panelists to the students, Everett turned the program over to Sands-Miller, who opened with an overview of the environmental field.
“What is it,” she asked the student, “that appeals to you about green jobs?”
“To save the earth,” a female student answered.
“To stop corporate greed,” said a young man soberly, drawing an understanding laugh from the audience.
According to the AAUW, “Students learned how environmental initiatives in Sonoma County on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green building will provide job opportunities in the coming decades.”
"Panelists shared their knowledge of solar installation and energy efficiency systems, environmental science services, and programs available at the local Santa Rosa Junior College in its Green Technology and Water Resources Program.”
In addition to the Career Choices Program, Healdsburg AAUW has contributed library resources to help students explore their aptitude and interests. They also donated $1,300 to the to continue to provide funding for an on-line school program called Naviance.
According to Edmonds and Everett, attendance across all grades ninth through 12th has been even, with about 60 percent female attendance to 40 percen male.
The American Association of University Women is almost 130 years old. It is a non-profit organization that promotes “equity for women and girls through education, research, advocacy, and philanthropy.”
The Healdsburg chapter covers Northern Sonoma County from Windsor to Cloverdale and was formed in 1972.
To learn more go to Healdsburg AAUW or Healdsburg Rotary.
