Helping make futures of students a little brighter

Last Wednesday Carson High held the first "Your Future's so Bright Day," which was designed to help meet one of the goals for our students, to "accelerate and enhance student's academic and career preparation."

We hope this will be another way the school and community can come together for the benefit of the students similar to the successful Senior Project program.

Freshman attended four different seminars throughout the morning on potential careers that they identified through a career interest inventory taken earlier in the year. All sophomores and many juniors took the PSAT exam, helping them get ready for the very important SATs they will take place in the next year or two.

Juniors who did not take the PSAT took the ASVAB Career Exploration Program, which is designed as a multiple-aptitude battery to identify skills and interests in future careers. Seniors were given the opportunity to either take the Western Nevada College Accuplacer or to choose between several workshops, including seminars on the military, scholarships and financial aid, finances, the senior project, the job market, and how to be a college student.

In the afternoon session, students attended a career fair in the small gym, and an assembly with motivational speaker Phil Boyt. It was a great day for our students and our community.

For the " Your Future's so Bright Day," the call was made to Carson City business and industry to represent 16 career cluster areas in a career fair and as presenters in seminars. As usual, the community responded in a big way with more than 90 speakers volunteering their time and energy to help our kids.

The list of people who helped make this day a success is far too long for this column, but Carson High would particularly like to acknowledge the high level of support from WNC President Dr. Lucey and the myriad of other WNC staff, and to thank them all.

Additionally, thanks need to be given to all the teachers and staff for the invaluable part they played. This day could not have been half the success it was if not for the tireless effort and dedication from the organizing committee consisting of Michelle Lewis, Misty Harris, Sarah Piggott, Shawn Schneider, Sarah Adler and Susan Sonnemaker. We also can't forget to mention our own Link Crew students, who did a great job helping our freshman. Kudos to all who helped make this day a big success.

In other happenings, the Carson High School Naval Junior ROTC Unit will conduct its annual military inspection on Wednesday. The ceremonial phase begins at 12:15 p.m. and the NJROTC Unit invites parents, family and friends of the cadets to attend this public event, which should be completed by 1:45 p.m. They extend a special invitation to veterans, members of supporting organizations and former cadets in the NJROTC program, which has been at Carson High School since 1974.

Call the unit at 283-1780 if you have any questions.

• Jeff Rispin teaches math at Carson High and is a member of Senator Pride.