Career Exploration

Ohio Christian University and Pickaway ESC Summit STEM, Session Overviews

Ohio Christian University and Pickaway ESC Summit on November 6, 2021  

Session 1: Learn about OSU Extension’s local hands-on informal STEM learning opportunities and youth career exploration programming in Pickaway County, Hands-on STEM Learning & Career Exploration Programming:

The goal of the Community Development STEM programs is to promote student engagement and interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. participants are engaging in hands-on STEM acNviNes and career exploration with visiting professionals and educators from the community and The Ohio State University. Select programs also involve high school mentor students that assist with program acNviNes while themselves gaining both soX and technical skills, leadership, community service, and college/career exploration opportunities.

Session 2: OSU Extension: Pickaway County K-12 Teacher/Student PercepKons: Virtual/Hybrid Learning Environments Preliminary Results, Preliminary Results K-12 Virtual Hybrid Learning Study:

Prezi Presentation: www.go.osu.edu/remotelearningstudy

The COVID-19 pandemic has also forced educators to reevaluate their programming formats and plan and create more virtual learning and teaching lessons for the current 2020/21 school year forward. The study is led by me, Meghan Thoreau, OSU Extension Educator 3, M.R.P. at OSU Extension, Community Development & STEM, College of Food, Agricultural, & Environmental Sciences. The purpose of the study is to measure the experiences of K-12 teachers and 6-12th grade students in virtual and/or hybrid learning environments, to measure teacher perceptions and attitudes of virtual and hybrid learning strategies, and to identify challenges and opportunities of virtual and hybrid learning environments compared to in-person instruction. This session will share out preliminary results of the action research study currently under analysis.

MEGHAN THOREAU, OSU Extension Educator with a unique mix of skills and experience in construction management, planning, and educational outreach and programming. Meghan focuses on preparing Pickaway County youth for STEM careers. She works collaboratively with a team of Extension professionals, volunteers, campus collaborators, and community partners to provide leadership for the development, production, and evaluation of educational programs and applied research to foster STEM educational opportunities that increase career a\ainment in STEM fields. Email: thoreau.1@osu.edu. 

Quadrilateral Sphero Coding Challenges

By: Meghan Thoreau, OSU Extension Educator

Code is everywhere: agriculture, sports, education, art/design, pharmaceutics, robotics, health, entertainment, travel, law, politics, engineering, transportation, meteorology, tourism – you get the point. No youth or 21st-century workforce development program should be absent of code.

Computer Programming with Sphero Summer Camp Program with OSU Extension. Music credit: song,18 anni, by ARIETE from Anzio, in the province of Rome.

 

The highlight video above documents a middle school summer camp program where students learned about geometry, coding terminology, and how a program is written from a series of simple commands or algorithms for a computer to run through and follow. The students also explored computer science careers and had an opportunity to work together on a Sphero Quadrilateral Coding Challenge to explore firsthand how accessible and fun coding can be for anyone that is willing to try and have fun with coding.

Resources

Presentation:

Handout:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quadrilaterals: Sperho Coding Challenge Handout

 

The Pandemic is forcing Women from the Workforce. Can Extension’s Workforce Development Programs Respond?

By: Meghan Thoreau, OSU Extension Educator

This poster presentation, ‘The Pandemic is forcing Women from the Workforce and Can Extension’s Workforce Development Programs Respond?’ was presented at the 2021 Virtual National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) National Conference on May 18, 2021. There were three versions created and provided below: 1) a video image-based poster presentation, 2) an online word-based poster presentation, and 3) a PDF word-based poster presentation.

Video Presentation (duration 13:40)

 

The Pandemic is forcing Women from the Workforce and Can Extension’s Workforce Development Programs Respond? (PDF version)

#NationalBusinessWomensDay: special career exploration webinar recording

By: Meghan Thoreau, OSU Extension Educator

Program panelists.

Professional leadership positions highlighted in the program.

Discover how leaders and events shape the community. Today we celebrated #Nationalbusinesswomensday, half a dozen local Pickaway County businesswomen joined a special roundtable discussion on career exploration to inspire the next generation of businesswomen. The recorded webinar lets us share and explore their career pathways, life lessons, reflections, and provides a networking opportunity in the follow-up. Please click to register, go.osu.edu/businesswomen, and watch the free Pickaway Businesswomen Roundtable Program. (Session transcripts are provided within recording.)

Zoom Webinar Program Team Screen Shot

Women in business are typically very active community leaders as well, such as supporting local opportunities of engagement. The women involved in this panel are examples of working professionals, but also community leaders and mentors for young professionals to follow.

In the coming weeks, we’ll provide featured blog posts highlighting each professional’s career path more in depth. So please say tune, and of course, special thanks to our wonderful business partners:

For more information or resource support please reach out to OSU Extension and Pickaway WORKS!

Pickaway Businesswomen Roundtable

By: Meghan Thoreau, OSU Extension Educator

Are you interested in learning more about careers in business? Take advantage of this free virtual networking opportunity with Pickaway County businesswomen leaders and explore local career pathways with a live Q&A session. Build connections for your future! Register now for the live panel discussion with local businesswomen leaders working in Pickaway County, Sept. 22, 2020, @ 10 AM. #NationalBusinessWomensDay

Program image created by Meghan Thoreau in Adobe Spark.

Registration required: go.osu.edu/businesswomen. After you register, a unique Zoom Webinar link will be emailed to you, please do not share this meeting link as it will affect your ability to participate in this virtual event.

Our Businesswomen Panelists Include

 

STACEY SARK is Co-owner and VP of Operations of Mid-Ohio Water Management, LLC, a family-owned excavation and drainage company that she manages with her husband Ryan. As vice president of operations, she works in the field as well as manages the office and finances. Prior to that, Stacey worked at P3 (Pickaway Progress Partnership), our county’s economic development agency for over 7 years and continues to work with them as a consultant maintaining their financials. Stacey earned a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Business from Wilmington College. She serves on the Pickaway County Planning Commission, is the chair for Pickaway County Community Foundation’s PCN Agriculture Committee, serves on the advisory board of Pickaway WORKS, and is a member of the Teays Valley Golden Sound band boosters. She also works with her daughter Delaney, raising and selling 4-H show steers. Stacey is a long-time resident of Pickaway County and a Westfall High School graduate. She and her husband Ryan have three children and live on their farm in Scioto Township. For more information contact Stacey, staceysark1@gmail.com.

BETHANY REID is the Vice President of Administration & Marketing for Health Care Logistics, Inc. Health Care Logistics (HCL) is a 40+ year family owned and operated business with world headquarters tucked under the famous Pumpkin Tower in Circleville. HCL specializes in distributing over 8,000 unique and hard to find medical supply items as well as limitless innovation solutions and manufacturing processes centered around the healthcare industry. Bethany is very involved in Pickaway County and serves on a multitude of committees and boards such as Trinity Lutheran Preschool, P3, and the Pickaway Ag & Event Center Leadership Team. She is also an extremely passionate 4H advisor for an 83 member 4-H club, and the Washington Hill Climbers. Bethany is a 1994 graduate of Logan Elm High School and a 1998 graduate of Capital University. She currently holds an inactive CPA license in addition to her bachelor’s degree in accounting.  Bethany is married to her high school sweetheart, Brian Reid, and have four beautiful children: Brittany, BJ, Blayton, and Bailey. She and her family reside on a small 5-acre farm southeast of Circleville, with a variety of animals and enjoy camping, shooting sports, traveling, and renovating their 159-year-old farmhouse. For more information contact Bethany, breid@gohcl.com.

HEIDI WHITE has been employed by Kingston National Bank since 1998 in a variety of positions and currently serving as Vice President and Branch and Sales Manager of the newest branch in Circleville. Heidi grew up in Ross County and has been a resident of the Logan Elm School district since 2001. Heidi is a graduate of Zane Trace High School and has a Bachelor of Science in Human & Consumer Sciences from Ohio University. In the community, Heidi is a member of the Circleville Noon Rotary, a 2018 Pickaway Fellow, serves on the Pickaway County YMCA Advisory Board and the PCN Leadership for Tomorrow committee. She is also serving her first term as a member of the Logan Elm Board of Education. For more information contact Heidi, h.white@kingstonnationalbank.com.

JESSICA MULLINS is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of The Savings Bank in Circleville. She oversees the deposit operations of all branches, facilitates vendor relations, and manages operational reporting, conversions, and risk management.  Jessica is a graduate of The Ohio State University achieving a B.S. degree in Business Administration with majors in Finance and Marketing. She has worked for The Savings Bank for 17 years and previously worked for Bank One (Chase) as a financial analyst. Jessica also serves the community by residing on various boards and being involved in community events. She currently serves on the Pickaway County Community Foundation Board, the Brooks Yates Housing Opportunities Board, Circleville Noon Rotary, and is a 4-H advisor for the Westfall Livestock 4-H Club. She is a graduate of the Pickaway Fellows program. She has previously served as board president for the Pickaway County Board of Developmental Disabilities, a board member for the Pickaway County Chamber, board member of Wayne Township Zoning Board, and others. Jessica resides in Circleville with her two children who attend Circleville High School and Middle School. For more information contact Jessica, jessica.mullins@thesavingsbank.net.

KATIE LOGAN HEDGES is the Director of Operations for a family-owned business, FORJAK Industrial, a commercial media blasting and coating facility. She graduated from Otterbein University in 2008 with a degree in Public Relations. Katie is responsible for all operations relating to 75 employees and over $14M in yearly revenue. She also consults for a conglomerate of not-for-profit public charter schools where she has worked since 2008. Currently, Katie served in many leadership roles, e.g. chairwomen of the Pickaway Metropolitan Housing Authority, chair of the Leadership for Tomorrow fund for the Pickaway County Fellows, secretary of the Pickaway County Welcome Center & Visitors Bureau, Circleville City Councilperson, Board Member of Circleville City School Foundation, member of Pickaway County 100+ Women Who Care, member of the Pickaway County Homeless Coalition, lector at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, and member of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Pickaway County Community Foundation. In her free time, Katie enjoys traveling abroad, reading, and writing a book. Leadership and a deep-rooted sense of community have been instilled in Katie since she was a young girl. She believes it’s the responsibility of every citizen to play a role in the community in which they live – whether that’s giving of their time, treasure, or talents. For more information contact Katie, khedges@forjakindustrial.com.

JOY EWING is the Director of Pickaway County Job and Family Services.  She is a graduate of Allen East High School, near Lima, Ohio. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work from Wilmington College and her Master’s in Public Administration from Walden University. Joy has worked at Pickaway County Job and Family Services for 25 years. She has been in several departments and positions during her time at the Agency. Joy started in Customer Service, then moved to various Caseworker positions. She joined the management team as an Administrator in 2006. In 2011, Joy was appointed as the Director of the Agency. Joy has served on several Boards and Community organizations.  Currently, she is a member of Circleville Noon Rotary. Joy is a Board member for Pickaway County Community Foundation, Pickaway County Chamber of Commerce, and Pickaway County Family Children First Council. For more information contact Joy, joy.ewing@jfs.ohio.gov.

Program sponsors are Pickaway WORKS and OSU Extension, Pickaway County. Registration required: go.osu.edu/businesswomen.

American Business Women’s Day is an American holiday, nationally recognized on September 22. The day of celebration marks the 1949 founding date of the American Business Women’s Association, the mission of which is, “to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership; education, networking support and national recognition.”[1]

This holiday was recognized in 1983 and 1986 by Congressional resolution and a proclamation issued by President Ronald Reagan.[2] It commemorates the important legacy and contributions of the more than 68 million American working women and 7.7 million women business owners.[3] Moreover, it provides an opportunity for ABWA chapters and individual businesswomen to celebrate their accomplishments within the American and global marketplace.

Photo source: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/american-business-womens-day-september-22/

  1.  “Archived copy”. Archived from the original on 2009-03-22. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  2. ^ http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1986/092286d.htm
  3. ^ “Archived copy”. Archived from the original on 2011-04-26. Retrieved 2011-04-12.

 

Pickaway County’s 2020 COSI SciFest Events: Recaps & Recordings

The City of Circleville and OSU Extension, Pickaway County joined forces this spring to participate in the 2020 COSI SciFest, held virtually, to teach and engage communities in science through the COVID-19 pandemic. We were able to offer two unique programs appealing to both youth and adults. The first program, Meet a Polymer Scientist & Engineer Library Youth Program, has Peggy Scott, a polymer scientist, and Christy Yu, a quality engineer, from DuPont sharing their personal experiences and passion for STEM careers to youth and their families. This program teaches about polymer chemistry and exploring science careers. “Click here” to stream recording.

Program 1: Meet A Scientist, Polymer Science Library Youth Program, Webinar recorded by COSI and uploaded to YouTube https://youtu.be/UIYlldO-AnE.

The second program Science Bar Talk teaches the ins and outs of beer from field to glass! The program starts with barley farmer Scott Metzger and OSU Extension Educator Mike Estadt sharing insights and the history of barley in Ohio. To Whitney Thompson of Origin Malt on the science and process of taking barley and turning it into malt. Nick Zachrich of Zachrich Hop Yard Farm shares the science of hop growing and the role of hops here in Ohio. And Jason McKibben, Brewmaster of North High Brewing, concludes with the science behind brewing beer. “Click here” to stream recording.

Program 2: Science Bar Talk, Webinar recorded by COSI and uploaded to YouTube, https://youtu.be/Vz-WcAzedUo. 

Partnerships Matter. Science Matters.

These programs could not be made possible without partnerships. Our local businesses, industries, farmers, educators, and sponsors came together to share their passion and knowledge in their areas of expertise. Many weeks of planning and re-organizing went into switching gears from our face-to-face programs to virtual events in our efforts to adhere to social distancing. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to making science come alive (virtually!)

COSI Science Festival’s Meet A Scientist Library Youth Program

This free virtual library youth program made possible through a community collaboration between COSI, DuPont (Circleville), Pickaway County Library, and OSU Extension. Pre-register now!

COSI Science Festival’s Meet A Scientist Youth Program, Saturday, May 9, 2020, 11:00 AM – Peggy Scott, a Dupont polymer scientist, and Christy Yu, a Dupont quality engineer, share their personal experiences and passion for STEM careers to youth and their families. Learn about polymer chemistry, science careers, and engage in a virtual polymer-scavenger hunt from the comfort of your home. Pre-registration is required for this free educational event, go to, go.osu.edu/polymeryouthprogram. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information and passcode to join the meeting. We’ll also send a reminder email prior to the event. #COSISciFest

For more information please email, thoreau.1@osu.edu.

Tech Recipe: Starting A Scholastic Drone Racing Team (fact sheet)

By: Meghan Thoreau, OSU Extension Educator

Schools interested in starting a drone racing team may have some basic questions, such as, “Is drone racing legal?”, “When did drone racing start?”, “How does drone racing work?” This fact sheet is written in a recipe format to provide simple how-to guidance for prospective schools and teachers who want to learn more about what it takes to start a drone racing team, such as materials and people needed, the skill-building benefits scholastic teams offer, equipment cost estimates, online resources, and instruction on how to develop a practice schedule and racing events. Fact sheet available at: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/cdfs-1576

WHY DRONES?

Scholastic drone teams propel lifelong learners. Student teams encourage and build enjoyment, teamwork, curiosity, critical thinking, courage, and creativity.

Video of 2019 Circleville City Schools District drone racing team, Maker X video highlight, an event held in Columbus, OH, by Meghan Thoreau, retrieved from: youtu.be/ITxWx-4jQXU.

Career Exploration: air travel industry

Airports are major employment centers for the cities they serve and depend upon a wide range of individuals with different skill sets. Consider careers available in the air travel industry. Medium to large aviation hubs offer plenty of job opportunities to choose from. Take time and consider jobs and career paths that appeal to your personal and professional interests.

JOHN GLENN INTERNATIONAL
The John Glenn International Airport, located 6-miles east of downtown Columbus, is the largest passenger airport in central Ohio. Over 8-million passengers traveled through the airport in 2018. John Glen International is the second busiest airport in Ohio after Cleveland Hopkins International. Several new flights launched in early 2019, which included nonstop flights to Seattle. More direct flights to popular destinations can booster local demand for air travel and advance its workforce.

Last month 40 Teays Valley high school students had an opportunity to tour John Glenn International Airport and learn about airport careers and the travel industry. The students were able to get behind the scenes and talk with airport professionals on topics of HOW DO I GET A JOB AT AN AIRPORT? WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO I NEED TO WORK AT AN AIRPORT? MOST POPULAR TYPES OF AIRPORT JOBS? AIRPORTS SALARIES, WAGES, AND PAY? Learn more, Career Exploration: air travel industry fact sheet.