ONLINE MEETING — Buckeye Local junior Anna White spoke with an online career coach in helping her determine her life path. The meeting was part of a collaboration between the school and the nonprofit Future Plans agency’s Growing Rural Independence Together project. -- Contributed

CONNORVILLE — Students at Buckeye Local High School are charting their career path through a collaboration with the nonprofit group Future Plans, and its Growing Rural Independence Together project.

The GRIT project is a grassroots economic recovery initiative in Appalachian Ohio which aims to boost economic growth through education, training and tools to unemployed or underemployed individuals.

The project includes various initiatives, including career education programs, job shadowing and industry field trips to connect participant’s strengths to real opportunities. The project teamed up with Buckeye Local with approximately 160 juniors and seniors completing assessments which target their employability skills. Students spent three days conducting online sessions with job coaches to determine their future plans, whether it be going to college, attending a trade school, entering the military or going into the workforce.

Chris Kiedaisch, a career-based intervention teacher at the high school, said the partnership began this year and gives the students a sense as to what direction they want to take in life.

“Juniors and seniors took a 14-part career test,” Kiedaisch said. “It’s like an aptitude test and it gives them career options. When they finish, it tells them what areas are compatible and they select three choices. Each student then gets a one-hour, one-on-one session with a career coach to go through the choices and help them do the next steps.”

If a student chooses to attend college, the career coach will assist with matters such as filing for FAFSA financial aid and creating applications to universities or colleges of their choice.

Should students opt to be involved in a trade, the coach will provide information on various unions where they can obtain apprenticeships or jobs. If students remain undecided, coaches will help them review their test results and discuss the matter further.

“The coaches make sure the students have the ability to make good decisions,” Kiedaisch continued. “They do a good job of making it individualized for each student. This is our first year of working with the GRIT project, and we hope every student will go through the process by their senior year so they can achieve success.”

Kaidasch has helped students obtain pre-apprenticeships to places such as Wheeling Hospital in order to gain experience and to decide whether they want to continue that career path. He noted being involved with Future Plans’ GRIT project is another means to help students reach their goals.

Leigh Ann Smith, community outreach partner for the organization, said Future Plans works under the project and is now in its seventh year. The organization collaborates with schools in 32 Appalachian counties, including Jefferson and Columbiana, and will assess and coach almost 10,000 students each year.

“We’re a workforce development nonprofit agency and our cornerstone is career access and one-hour career coaching sessions,” Smith said. “We have a five-step approach to help students start their career path. We look at their abilities and interests and match them with in-demand fields with a living wage.”

Smith stated the agency typically starts with sophomores and helps with decisions on curriculum, College Credit Plus and career-tech, as well as pre-apprenticeships and working in high school so students can make more informed choices about attending college, a trade school, going to work or joining the military.

“We have assisted nearly 35,000 students since we began,” Smith concluded. “We have more than 40 certified career coaches in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky who meet with students on Google Meet and Zoom.”

A summer program is available for students to have the opportunity to gain industry-recognized credentials at participating colleges. Students will spend three weeks training in a course of study and earn certification that equates to 12 points toward graduation.

Programs have been held at Belmont College, Hocking College, Shawnee State University and more with certifications ranging from HVAC and heavy equipment operation to pharmacy technician and educational paraprofessionals.

The programs are free to the students who must provide their own transportation; however, the agency offers gas cards to defray fuel expenses. In addition, Future Plans is an umbrella agency which aids adults who are seeking job assistance.