Program connects high school students with business leaders

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) - A group of high school students met with local professionals from a number of different fields in March as part of the Emerging Leaders Program.

The sophomores and juniors, 16 from Mount Anthony Union High School and five from Burr and Burton Academy, were recommended by school counselors and teachers from showing exceptional leadership potential. The program is funded through a grant from the Vermont Department of Labor, and is overseen by the Bennington County Industrial Corporation’s Workforce and Education Working Group (which was absorbed along with the BCIC by the Bennington County Regional Commission last January). Partners in the program include MAU, BBA, the Southwest Vermont Career Development Center, and the Community College of Vermont.

According to CCV Coordinator of Academic Services Jeannie Jenkins, who also serves on the Workforce and Education Working Group, the students are encouraged to speak with people both in fields they are interested in and those they know nothing about. This summer, the emerging leaders will participate in internships within the community, some of which were hopefully inspired on Monday.

In total, 16 professionals volunteered their time to come speak with the students. They included state representative Bill Botzow, Jack Byer of Goldstone Architecture, veterinarian Julie Cornell, Mount Anthony Union High School speech and language pathologist Katie Cross, retired nurse and clinical educator Peg Daly, Jason Dolmetsch of MSK, Dimitri Garder of Global Z International, April Johnson of E-enable Inc., Alix Jones of the Saratoga Arts Organization, Matt Harrington of the Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce, Callie Houlihan of Hemmings Motor News, Deana Mallory of the Bennington Museum, Kevin Phillips of KP-Metrics, Shelly Stiles of the Bennington County Conservation District, Jim Trimarchi of Southwestern Vermont Health Care, and attorney Sarah E. Wilson.

Lisa Harrington, who is the coordinator of the Emerging Leaders program at MAU, said that the students participating in the program all take CCV’s Intro to College Studies class, and meet monthly during lunch. The students also go on a couple retreats during the year, with the goal of building teamwork, communications, and other skills. She said that many of her students are hoping to get into the fields of engineering and technology, but that many are also interested in graphic design and the visual arts.

This year, for the first time, Aaron Dickie, a career resource specialist at the Bennington office of the Department of Labor, worked with the students directly on areas such as career planning and resume writing. He praised the work the schools have done toward helping their students acquire the skills employers are looking for. “The schools in Bennington and our partners have done a great job of bridging that gap,” he said.

Botzow, who has participated in the Emerging Leaders professional meet-up every year since its inception, said that each year the students are more confident and more open to career exploration than their predecessors. “The world isn’t as dire as it’s sometimes made out to be,” said Botzow, “There are real opportunities.

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Information from: Bennington Banner, https://www.benningtonbanner.com