The second annual Savannah RISE 8th Grade Experience West at Georgia Southern University’s Statesboro campus brought together more than 700 eighth-grade students from North Bryan, Candler, Bulloch, Effingham, Evans and Screven counties for an unforgettable, hands-on look at career opportunities across the region.
With more than 120 students from Bryan County Middle School participating, the event connected students with representatives from more than 30 industries, giving them the opportunity to explore career options, engage with industry professionals and discover pathways they may not have previously considered. The timing is intentional, offering students valuable exposure to potential careers as they begin making decisions about their high school pathways.
Bryan County industries were well represented, with C&H, Daniel Defense, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA), Mobis, Burlington and Xcel participating to showcase local opportunities and inspire the next generation of the workforce.
“Having the partnership with RISE Savannah and the Development Authority of Bryan County allows us to reach potential candidates for employment at this time, but also allows us to build a pipeline for future employees,” said Jim Everett of Daniel Defense. “When I think of the opportunities that our partnerships create, I think of the 8th Grade Experience. It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to go out and see the youth in our local school systems and plant that seed. It’s sometimes difficult to do things on our own, but when we can partner with these groups, it just gives us more avenues to reach out in our community.”
These partnerships also help connect career exploration with tangible opportunities for students as they move through school and prepare for the workforce.
“It’s one thing to be able to say we have pathways, but to be able to connect back to partners and say, ‘Hey, we have developed workforce opportunities for students,’ and have over 150 juniors and seniors participating in that is meaningful,” said Jonathan Shearer, Director of CTAE, Federal and Special Programs for Bryan County Schools. “We are looking to grow that, but we can’t do that without the coordination and support, the leadership, that RISE and the Development Authority are providing.”
By connecting students with local industries and real-world career pathways today, Savannah RISE is helping build the skilled workforce our communities need tomorrow.
The initiative continues November 18 with 8th Grade Experience East at Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus, bringing together students from Chatham, Liberty and Richmond Hill for another opportunity to explore careers and envision their futures.
Through collaboration among education, industry and community partners, these experiences help bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace while strengthening the future of our regional workforce.