The East Central Ohio Educational Service Center (ECOESC) hosted a middle school Career Connections Program on March 16. Over 200 eighth graders from Cambridge City Schools and East Guernsey Local Students attended this event to learn more about local businesses and job opportunities. The goal of the ESC was to strengthen the connection between the local schools and businesses. 

The students were able to learn more about different fields of work like health and medicine, trade skills, hospitality, and arts and communication. The program featured two parts: presentations and tours. The students arrived at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center in the morning and departed for different local businesses in small groups. 

They visited The Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 495, the Cambridge Area YMCA Family Center, Salt Fork Lodge & Conference Center, Rocky Fork Ranch, the Local Area Agency on Aging (Region 9), and the Tenneco plant in Cambridge. The students that participated in the tours were provided lunch by the businesses. 

Lunch was provided by ECOESC for a mid-afternoon break before the scheduled presentations at Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center to those that stayed on site.  The businesses that presented there were Ohio Oil and Gas Energy, The Muskingum Valley Health Center, and ECOESC. Questions and conversation were encouraged to promote learning about the local businesses and different career pathways they could explore. 

This is the first year the ECOESC has hosted this event in Guernsey County. For those interested in participating next year, please contact Sarah Spies at sarah.spies@ecoesc.org.