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1/15/2019 |
Newsletter Article |
YEAR IN REVIEW - IMAA SPARKS CAREER INTEREST FOR HUNDREDS OF 8TH GRADERS |
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IMAA SPARKS CAREER INTEREST FOR HUNDREDS OF 8TH GRADERS In September, over 9,000 eighth graders from the central Indiana area descended on the Indiana State Fairgrounds for Junior Achievement of Central Indiana’s 3rd Annual JA JobSpark event. JA JobSpark is a two-day, hands-on career expo for all Indianapolis 8th graders. The event is meant to “spark” an interest in students and get them excited for their future. Students learn about skills needed for jobs that will be in demand when they graduate, while utilizing equipment that is used on those jobs daily. After the event, students have a better understanding of the courses they will need to take in high school, a track for post-secondary and a clear career pathway that aligns with their interests. IMAA sponsored JA JobSpark and participated with a hands-on activity in the Architecture, Engineering & Construction career cluster. The IMAA PIE Committee worked on putting together a very scaled down and simplified representation of a quarry operation. Since one of the biggest challenges of introducing students to aggregates mining careers is getting them on to a mine site, the PIE Committee developed a mini quarry with remote control vehicles, a working conveyor and a plant that screened out three sizes of material. Students could operate the remote control loaders and haul trucks, having to coordinate their routes and timing to be efficient. Sixteen IMAA volunteers over the two days helped to explain the process of mining to the students, and answered questions about their own careers in the aggregates industry. Hundreds of students participated in the activity or watched their classmates operate the equipment. The PIE Committee has plans in 2019 to continue improving the mini quarry activity by incorporating some video and additional career education content. The activity can also be used at other outreach events. The PIE Committee would like to recognize Jon Havens and Kevin Holloway from Irving Materials, Inc. for designing and fabricating the plant and conveyor replicas. Return to IMAA news >
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