Kirtland Community College Hosts Annual 8th Grade Career Exploration Day, Welcoming Students from Across the Region
On Friday, April 25, Kirtland Community College proudly welcomed over 750 eighth-grade students from 12 area schools to its Grayling campus for the annual 8th Grade Career Exploration Day. The interactive event offered students an engaging opportunity to explore diverse career paths and gain firsthand insight into a variety of professional fields.
“Kirtland is very lucky to have the quality faculty and staff who invest extra time creating hands-on sessions for the event. Students will get to dissect in the A & P lab, do chemistry experiments, weld, fix cars and build electrical circuits. They will even do ultrasounds and gown-up in the operating room,” said Cesalee Kuffel, Kirtland Admissions Coordinator.
Held each year, the Career Exploration Day leverages Kirtland’s state-of-the-art campus facilities to deliver a wide-ranging, career-focused experience. Students engaged in 2 unique topic sessions of their choosing, from a list of 26 total sessions, allowing students to tailor their experience based on their interests. Session topics included skilled trades, health sciences, athletics, science, history, biology, computer technology, and more.
“Special features of the event will include meeting the new Sparky the firebird, taking home creations, and meeting student athletes,” added Kuffel.
In addition to attending sessions, students had the opportunity to navigate the campus using provided maps, interact directly with Kirtland faculty, and participate in immersive, hands-on activities. Activities included what it takes to be a college athlete, fun with film making, the business of Esports, nursing skills and health professions, and cool coding: computer tech.
These activities aimed to foster curiosity and enthusiasm in students as they discovered different career fields and skills necessary to excel in them. By working closely with Kirtland’s staff and faculty, the students received invaluable guidance and mentorship during the event.
Educators from participating schools expressed high praise for the event’s impact on students’ awareness of potential educational and career pathways.
“This event provides hand on experience and exposure to careers and fields that they [attending students] might not even know about,” said Faith Ignasiak, Roscommon High School Student Support Advisor. “In eighth grade they are still very much exploring and have not dipped their feet in the waters of careers and so this event is great for them to see what they can do.”
“This is probably one of my favorite events to take our students to get them outside of the classroom in this way, exploring some new things that maybe they have never heard about or are maybe interested in,” said Crystalonic Kulhanek, Grayling Middle School Counselor. “You know there were the five big categories that we learned about in school and now I feel there are dozens here that students get to explore more deeply and see that you do not have to put yourself in this niche or you can combine them with so many different areas and make your own pathway maybe you wouldn’t have thought of.”
By providing a safe and engaging environment for students to explore different career paths and college experiences, Kirtland’s 8th Grade Career Exploration Day plays a critical role in guiding students toward making informed decisions about their future educational pursuits.
The event serves as a bridge between middle school and higher education, offering students a chance to picture themselves as college students and professionals in various fields. This hands-on approach helps demystify the college experience, making it more approachable and tangible for the young students.
“Kirtland’s 8th Grade Career Exploration Day is a powerful introduction to the world of higher education,” said Michelle Vyskocil, Kirtland Vice President of Student Services.” By giving students hands-on experiences and personal connections with our faculty and programs, we help them envision a future they may not have considered before. It’s about planting seeds of possibility and showing them that college can be a real, accessible option.”
By introducing middle school students to the possibilities of higher education and future careers in a tangible, accessible way, the event plays a vital role in early college and career readiness.
“Small community schools don’t always have the opportunity to give students things that will fire them up about learning, we hope students will find a spark participating in something new,” said Kuffel.
Kirtland Community College remains dedicated to providing innovative educational experiences that support student growth and strengthen local communities. The annual 8th Grade Career Exploration Day is one of many initiatives that reflect Kirtland’s mission to prepare students for success—in college, careers, and beyond.
