PERRYSBURG – On Wednesday and Thursday, about 2,400 area eighth-graders got the opportunity to explore a
variety of careers during Penta Career Center’s first-ever Career Expo.
Student visitors from 14 area school districts had one hour to explore displays and hands-on activities
in career areas such as computers, digital video, automotive, construction, culinary, public safety,
medical, agriculture, manufacturing, and business.
Penta students and staff worked the past few weeks to prepare career exploration activities and
information for the student visitors to help them begin thinking about their career interests.
"Our hope is that the eighth-graders will explore careers that interest them when they visit us
during the expo," said Ronald Matter, superintendent of Penta Career Center. "Statewide there
is more emphasis on introducing career exploration activities to younger students and our 8th Grade
Career Expo is one way Penta is trying to help."
Some of the activities the eighth-graders were exposed to included 3-D car racing; a welding simulator;
culinary demonstrations based on the Food Network show "Chopped"; emergency response vehicles:
a television production vehicle from WTVG; the latest automotive models; cosmetology services of
curling, foiling and braiding; smartphone applications with GIS; and exploring a student-constructed
"Ames" room that creates an optical illusion.