The Sumter County School District brought employers and workers together this past week in a successful event that shows the power of teamwork.
Two of the most-necessary ingredients were present – eager students armed with resumes and potential employers interested in finding talent during a labor shortage.
The Sumter Senior Hiring Fair was held at the Sumter PREP Academy gymnasium in Wildwood with more than 70 graduating seniors from South Sumter High School, Wildwood Middle High School and The Villages Charter High School connected with 26 local employers for on-site interviews and immediate hiring. Thirty-seven students were offered positions and nearly a dozen more have job offers pending review of their qualifications. Potential employers included the T&D family of companies, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Crevalle Boats of Wildwood, American Medical Response which operates Sumter County EMS and others.
Seniors from Sumter’s high schools are graduating with a variety of industry certifications, making them preferred candidates for potential employers. Certifications held by the 2021 graduates include: Adobe Programs, Microsoft Office, Childhood Development Associate, Certified Nursing Assistant, 911 Public Safety Telecommunication, Agritechnology, Agricultural Biotechnology, Animal Science, Agriculture Associate, Landscape Technician, Medical Administrative Assistant, Servasafe: Certified Food Protection Manager, CIW Internet Business Associate, and Patient Care Technician. One important goal of the school district is that every student would graduate with at least one plan – to be enrolled in college, enlisted in service or employed in a career.
“This is an annual event for us as we try to encourage and assist our new graduates to the world outside of high school. We’d like our graduates to be employed, enrolled, or enlisted as they seek direction for their future lives,” said Sumter School Superintendent Rick Shirley. He further commented on how supportive local businesses have been to this initiative and thanked them for their assistance. If you are currently searching for entry-level workers and would like to participate in next year’s hiring fair, or are interested in providing job opportunities to local youth, contact Casey Ferguson at (352) 793-5719 ext. 54210 or Casey.Ferguson@sumter.k12.fl.us.
