16-05-2025
Seventh-graders experience Career Quest
ELKHART — Thousands of seventh-grade students were enticed with a wide array of possible career paths during an annual Career Quest event held Wednesday and Thursday at the Northern Indiana Event Center.
The event, organized by the Horizon Education Alliance, attracted over 2,500 seventh-graders from across Elkhart County over the two days. Local employers from the business operations, construction, health care and manufacturing sectors hosted interactive activities for students.
Seventh-grade students need to think about their future careers now more than ever because of the high school diploma changes, said Sarah Koontz, director of CareerWise Elkhart County.
'They're choosing pathways early, so in eighth grade, they're building their schedule for high school,' Koontz said. 'They're either going to do enrollment, enlistment or employment, and so they'll have to be thinking about that.'
The Career Quest event helps seventh-grade students figure out what they like, what their skills are, and knowing what all the options are, Koontz said. Horizon Education Alliance hosted businesses from different sectors to show students they do not necessarily need to go to college to go into a specific field, she said.
Career Quest was established in 2019, and has been hosted annually at Northern Indiana Event Center, except during the COVID-19 pandemic when it was canceled. Koontz said the event has always had a similar number of businesses each year, but the size of the event has grown. Each business is now providing multiple activities to showcase different occupations, instead of just one activity.
Students also have the opportunity to become an apprentice at different businesses when they are in high school. Season Geans, a senior at Jimtown High School and an apprentice with Surf Internet, said her apprenticeship has helped her get into the business world, which is where she wants to be after school.
'I would definitely say that it's wonderful for the students to get out here and experience all the different jobs,' Geans said. 'I've had a couple students come up and ask about all the different jobs that we offer ... It's definitely amazing to see all of them interested in getting out into the field.'
Horizon Education Alliance is a non-profit organization created by Elkhart County education and business leaders. It works across communities for the betterment of the whole county, and holds the belief that education is the key to unlocking the full potential of all residents.
A representative of one of the construction companies at the event, Build Your Future, said Career Quest was a great investment of time for businesses and students alike.
'Our goal is to get in front of students, kindergarten through 12th grade, and just help them understand that there's potential careers in the building and trades industry as they go through their schooling,' said Kelly Barr, committee chair for Build Your Future. 'This is the best opportunity for us to get in front of the maximum number of kids, let them try some tools and talk to them about what we do as builders and tradespeople. It's very rewarding to come and engage with the kids.'
Career Quest 2025 was supported by diamond sponsor Community Foundation of Elkhart County; silver sponsors Beacon Health, Brinkley RV, Grand Design RV, Ivy Tech, Lippert, Surf Internet, and Utilimaster; and bronze sponsors First State Bank and Nuway Construction.
