Since 2017, the Career Navigator Program, a partnership of South Central College (SCC), South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) and school districts in the South Central Perkins Consortium, has provided valuable career exposure opportunities to ninth grade students. The Career Navigator Program enables students to explore the career options available to them from professionals from various fields, as well as learn about the academic preparation and technical skills needed to succeed.
In the past, the program has been held at South Central College’s campuses in Faribault and North Mankato. Last year, with schools closed due to the pandemic, the program was transitioned to an online format thanks to the combined efforts of SCC, SCSC and new partners Lime Valley Advertising and OMG-Otto Media Group. The online program included new content and professionals from 26 organizations and businesses sharing career information.
This year, the Career Navigator Program is offering the best of both worlds, with 2,504 students again able to learn about careers and engage with area professionals through in-person interactive sessions at SCC’s campuses, as well as access the online component at their school or at home.
This past fall, 945 students attended in-person Career Navigator sessions at SCC’s Faribault campus. Students at these sessions came from Alden-Conger, Janesville Waldorf Pemberton, Faribault, Medford, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva, Tri-City United, Waseca and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown High Schools.
This past Friday, SCC’s North Mankato campus began hosting in-person Career Navigator sessions with 414 students attending from Mankato Central, Mankato West and St. Clair High Schools. Upcoming sessions in North Mankato will include 1,185 students from the following high schools:
- February 25: Cleveland, Madelia and United South Central High Schools and Kato Public Charter School
- March 18: Mankato East and Le Sueur-Henderson High Schools
- April 22: Blue Earth Area, Butterfield-Odin, Lake Crystal Welcome Memorial, Maple River, Sleepy Eye and St. James High Schools and Riverbend Education District
- April 29: St. Peter High School