E.C. Central students attend career fair

EAST CHICAGO | Nearly 900 East Chicago Central High School students attended a career fair Wednesday featuring more than 40 businesses, colleges and military booths.

Shaunna Finley, the high school's college and career preparation specialist, said the Career Pathways Fair was designed for students in ninth- through 11th grades.

Although the school district no longer has a career center, it offers 10 career pathways to students including architecture and construction, arts/audio visual technology, business management and health science.

"We want to introduce students to all of the options that are available to them, including college, careers and the military," Finley said.

Some of the career options and education services featured at the fair included Indiana University Northwest in Gary, the National Guard and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.

Junior Angel Gutierrez, an aspiring police officer, was at a table along with several other students talking to an East Chicago police officer. Gutierrez said he would like to be an officer in his community but is willing to become an officer anywhere in the country.

"I know there is some risk to being an officer, but I'm interested in helping people, protecting them," he said.

Sophomores Shandisha Pollard and Paris Harrison and junior Glenn Darey III said the fair taught them about the necessary qualifications for certain careers. Darey is interested in joining the Marines, while Harrison wants to get into fashion design. Pollard wants to be a dental technician.