Nacogdoches High School Hosts Youth Career Summit for Local Students and Employers

Nacogdoches High School (NHS) in East Texas recently held a Youth Career Summit in partnership with Workforce Solutions of Deep East Texas. The event took place at the Malcolm Rector Center for Advanced Careers & Innovation, with 36 employers, colleges, and military branches participating. The goal was to link NHS juniors and seniors with potential employers and educational institutions in East Texas. Students from other Nacogdoches County high schools also attended.

NHS spent several weeks preparing for the event. During this time, students could improve their skills through mock job interviews conducted by volunteers and NISD administrators. The Career & Technical Education Department at NISD also supplied professional clothing for students to wear at the event through its Closet for Success initiative.

Coy Van Valkenburgh, NISD’s Director of College and Career Readiness, discussed the potential benefits of the event for the students. He mentioned that many nearing graduation students were interviewed for positions by the participating employers. He hoped that some students received job or internship offers at the event.

NHS senior Alondra Beltran shared her interest in becoming a certified physical therapy assistant and finding a job after graduation. She highlighted the summit's role in providing different options for students.

A diverse range of organizations participated in the event, including the Deep East Texas Council of Governments, Rusk State Hospital, Lockheed Martin, Texas A&M – School of Nursing, Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital, U.S. Army, U.S. Marines Corps, and Stephen F. Austin State University, among others.

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