HHMS Students Energized By Annual JA JobSpark Experience

By The Times of Noblesville | October 10, 2023
The JA JobSpark experience in Indianapolis has become a right of passage for eighth-grade students at Hamilton Heights Middle School. Each year students travel to the State Fairgrounds to participate in hands-on learning experiences designed to spark interest in potential careers. Enjoying the experience are (l-r): Aleaha Trump, Ellie Clarke, Kaelynn Fidler, Olivia Higgins, and Abigail Hilfiker. Courtesy photo.
Hamilton Heights Middle School eighth-grade students spent a day at JA JobSpark at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Tuesday, September 25. More than a career fair, JA JobSpark brings together the business community and local schools to help launch middle school students into their future—high school, college, and careers beyond. Pictured by the Arrow McLaren car driving by Alexander Rossi are HHMS educator Connor James and students Cooper Clevenger, Levi Meinhardt, and Logan Maiden.
Eighth-grade students from Hamilton Heights Middle School are pictured at the recent JA JobSpark expo in Indianapolis. Students enjoyed the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities, often using equipment or tools used on a job. The multi-hour experience is configurable to align with local industry and career opportunities. Lisette Tecuanhuehue-Robles is pictured assembling a mini electric circuit grid. It is similar to a puzzle, but the puzzle will not transfer electricity through it if you do not follow the instructions to put it together.

On Tuesday, September 26 all eighth-grade students from Hamilton Heights Middle School traveled to the Indiana State Fairgrounds to attend Job Spark, presented by Junior Achievement (JA JobSpark). Over 100 different regional and local companies participated to provide students with over 200 different hands-on learning activities to help students explore various careers.

“It was an amazing day!” said Connor James, HHMS Business and Preparing for Colleges and Careers Teacher, who is an instrumental part of making this experiential day trip possible for the eighth-grade student body each year. “So many seeds of inspiration were planted today. We won’t see the harvest for a very long time, but I’m 100% certain it will be plentiful. One of the things I am most proud of about this event is that we take every single eighth grade student. They all get to experience this and I’m confident the vast majority of them will carry a seed or two of inspiration with them back into the classroom.”

“I’m also so proud of how our students conducted themselves,” continued James. “They were engaged and extremely respectful to the volunteers and business owners who were making this day possible for them. HHMS students left a positive impression and that is a credit to our students, their parent/guardians, and our staff.”

JA JobSpark is a two-day, hands-on career expo impacting over 11,000 Indianapolis eighth graders. JA JobSpark is part of the JA Work and Career Readiness Pathway and is intended for middle school students (grades 6–8). This volunteer- and educator-led program can be classroom-based, remote live, or after-school. The JA JobSpark initiative includes in-class or remote curriculum and activities prior to and after attending the event. JA JobSpark is meant to “spark” an interest in students and get them excited for their future. Students will learn about skills needed for jobs that will be in demand when they graduate and will learn about the equipment that is used on those jobs daily. The expos help students gain a better understanding of the courses they will need to take in high school, a track for post-secondary and a clear career pathway for what they find they are interested in.

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