PEORIA (25News Now) – Thousands of Central Illinois eighth graders are getting a hands-on look at their futures as the 10th annual Greater Peoria CareerSpark takes over the Peoria Civic Center.
The two-day event, on Wednesday and Thursday, gives more than 4,000 students the opportunity to explore over 100 different careers through interactive activities, demonstrations and conversations with local professionals.
From healthcare and manufacturing to agriculture, construction and public safety, students are discovering career paths they may have never considered before.
Chris Setti, CEO of the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, said the event is designed to introduce students to potential careers before they begin making important educational decisions in high school.
“And it’s really an awesome opportunity for young people not to decide what they want to be when they grow up, but to start thinking about what they might want to be,” Setti said.
Unlike traditional career fairs, where students might simply speak with someone behind a table, CareerSpark encourages participants to get involved.
Students can explore robotics, participate in interactive games and experience demonstrations that give them a better understanding of different industries.
“They really get to experience it. And our volunteers do an awesome job of creating interactive experiences, because that’s the way kids get excited,” Setti said.
For Midwest Central Middle School eighth grader Libby Duwaldt, the event offered an opportunity to discover new interests while enjoying a day outside the classroom.
Duwaldt said she particularly enjoyed seeing the robots and participating in activities with her friends.
“It’s very exciting. And, like, it’s overwhelming, but not. It’s like in a good overwhelming way. It kind of shows you like what you’re interested in and what you’re not,” Duwaldt said.
Although she hasn’t decided exactly what she wants to do for a career, Duwaldt said seeing the different opportunities has helped her think more about her future.
Setti explained that exposing students to different industries at this age is especially important because high school electives and career technical education courses can help put students on a path toward their future professions.
The event is also celebrating a major milestone this year.
For the past decade, the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council and Junior Achievement of Central Illinois have worked alongside local businesses, sponsors and volunteers to introduce young people to careers available throughout the region.
Setti said approximately 4,000 to 4,300 students participate each year, with hundreds of volunteers helping make the experience possible.
He also shared a personal connection to the event.
His youngest daughter attended CareerSpark during its second year and has since graduated from nursing school. She now works as a nurse at a Chicago hospital.
Setti said her first exposure to the healthcare industry may have come from attending CareerSpark.
While organizers cannot track every student’s career journey, Setti believes the event is making a difference by introducing young people to possibilities they might not have otherwise discovered.
He hopes students leave inspired to explore subjects and electives that could eventually lead to fulfilling careers.
“It’s about exploration. And I think that’s really important at this stage,” Setti said.
The 10th annual CareerSpark continues Thursday, October 29, at the Peoria Civic Center.
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