Flaco Guapo Media
Story/photos/slides courtesy of Conexión San Angelo
SAN ANGELO – At this year’s 26th annual Business Exposition for the second consecutive year, 115 eighth graders from area schools were invited to a seminar called, Career Connection, which is geared toward informing them how to brand themselves. The guest speaker for that first hour was Dr. Herman Howard, the Department of Communication and Mass Media Professor/ Chair for Angelo State University. The eight graders representing their respective schools were: Wall (26), Sterling City (27), Bronte (20), Eden (21), Rochelle (12) and Angelo Catholic (9).
After asking the students a series of questions, Dr. Howard stated that each and every one of them was competing in a global environment. “You are competing with students your same age from countries such as Asia, Africa, Latin America, the United States and also in Canada for the same type of position as far as a job, schools, for scholarships, research or whatever it is that you want to do.”
“The key question my friends is this ‘what will separate you from millions of people around the world who want to do the same thing?’” “It is entirely up to you as far as your self-study, your research, your work ethic and your drive,” said Howard.
The second hour was devoted to going out into the McNease Convention Center floor to talk to future prospective employers and give out their resumes.
Bruce Partain, President/ CEO of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce was proud that this year’s Business Expo, held at the McNease Convention Center, was sold out with 70 vendors with an expected crowd of 2,000 to come through before the end of the day.
Left-to-right: Nelson Davis, Construction Trades Program Co-Chair Instructor; Kristen Oliver, Executive Officer for SAHBA; and Mike Biggerstaff, owner of Biggerstaff Homes, Inc.
One of those vendors was the San Angelo Builders Home Association of San Angelo in partnership with Howard College.
“Statistics tell us if we go in during a students’ seventh and grade year, we can help mold those perceptions to where students have different career paths; we’re trying to get them while they are young.” There are other options out there besides college” said Kristen Oliver, Executive Officer for SAHBA.
“A lot of children believe that they are not going to be a success unless they have a formal education.” You don’t have to have a degree to be a success” concluded Mike Biggerstaff.