WRCNM News

29th Non-Traditional Career Day inspires female students

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North Central Michigan College President, Cameron Brunet-Koch welcomes area high school students to the 29th Non-Traditional Career Day. The event encourages 9th and 10th grade girls to aspire and excel in careers historically underrepresented by women.

Northern Michigan female high school freshman and sophomore students participated in the 29th Non-Traditional Career Day held at North Central Michigan College on December 8.

Professional women from the community and throughout the state met with the students to help them explore non-traditional careers for women, such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, computer information systems, aviation/pilot and welding.

Students selected career tracks of interest and then spent the day exploring those jobs while visiting with professional women who work in those careers. “This event provides an opportunity for female students to broaden their career awareness and learn more about high-skill jobs that are not only in demand, but also provide a higher wage,” said Stacey Burns, educational and employment services coordinator for Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan.

The goal of career day is to help girls in high school aspire to excel and to think beyond traditional women’s careers which generally pay less. Women remain underrepresented in occupations across many occupational groups, including those in the construction trades and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. Non-traditional occupations offer women higher entry-level wages and higher pay as she advances in her career.

North Central Michigan College President, Cameron Brunet-Koch, provided a welcome message to the students. Before breaking into smaller groups, the students heard an address by Debbie Dawson, who is an associate professor of electrical engineering technology at Ferris State University.

Non-Traditional Career Day is sponsored by Char-Em Intermediate School District, North Central Michigan College, Petoskey Zonta Club and Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan.

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Ferris State University Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering Technology, Debbie Dawson, addresses attendees at the 2017 Non-Traditional Career Day at North Central Michigan College.