Pikeville High School hosted its annual Life Science Career Day on Oct. 2 on campus with representatives from the Kentucky State Police, Pikeville Police Department, Pikeville Fire Department, military branches and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
Pikeville High School hosted its annual Life Science Career Day on Oct. 2 on campus, allowing students to explore various science-related careers. The event was organized by the school’s JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) club and the biology department and was intended to broaden students’ understanding of how science can be applied in a variety of fields.
Pikeville High School Senior and President of Pikeville Jag Brenden Anthony expressed his hopes for the event:
“I hope students just see how far science can go in a career,” he said. “If even one student gets inspired today to pursue a career in one of these fields, then it’s a success.”
The event featured representatives from multiple organizations, including the Kentucky State Police, Pikeville Police Department, Pikeville Fire Department, military branches and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Each group interacted with students, demonstrating how their careers rely on scientific knowledge and principles.
Pikeville High School Biology Teacher and Teens Who Care sponsor Kelly Scott explained the shift from an outdoor event last year at the riverbank to a more centralized approach this year. “We usually try to do an outdoor event where the kids get lots of learning outside,” she said. “But for many reasons, we thought we could just move it here and showcase jobs that require science.”
Scott emphasized the importance of understanding that science careers extend beyond the medical field, stating,
“We want our students to see that with science, it doesn’t always have to be a medical degree or anything in the medical field, there’s so many amazing other jobs you can do that require the knowledge of science,” she said.
According to Scott, as students rotated through the various booths, they were encouraged to engage with professionals and ask questions, gaining insight into potential career paths that they may not have previously considered.