Curry High freshmen Brianna Nuss and Mikayla Lyons listen as David Pickard discusses procedures done in the heart catheterization lab at Walker Baptist Medical Center during Friday’s Groundhog Job Shadow Day. Daily Mountain Eagle - Ron Harris
The event is held for ninth graders from Walker County Schools, Jasper City Schools and Sumiton Christian School. The day allowed those students to shadow area professionals at nearly 80 businesses.
“This event is always a success, but this year went especially well,” Chamber President Linda Lewis said. “I am just so thankful for the business community for always coming through for us on this event. There were so many people who made this event successful — the businesses, the superintendents, the Walker County Center of Technology and the bus drivers. We couldn’t have done this without any of them.”
Shadowing locations will include almost every department of Bevill State Community College, the City of Jasper, Walker Baptist Medical Center, local banks, law enforcement agencies, churches, veterinarians, nursing homes and other businesses and organizations.
Renae McKinney, community relations director at WBMC, said the hospital hosted around 70 students.
“Walker Baptist is always happy to participate in the job shadow event,” she said. “This is a valued project for our community. Our participation gives students exposure to a number of health careers. It is a large undertaking, but we see it as a worthwhile undertaking.”
Lewis said workforce development and education are important factors in any community.
“People are seeing the importance of having a trained workforce,” she said. “Groundhog Job Shadow Day has grown each year, and it is a true joint effort. All of us have to work together to make it a success.”