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Next month, a collection of local teens will have the opportunity to learn first-hand from representatives of the area business community in the hope the knowledge they share will help to better prepare the youth for their future.
The Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce is finalizing its plans for this year's Dr. Barbara A. Matey High School Business Symposium, which has been scheduled for April 11.
The symposium features a day of business-related lessons for up to 120 area high school juniors. Students from our four West Virginia schools - Weir, Brooke, Oak Glen and Madonna - as well as some from Jefferson County in Ohio - Steubenville and Indian Creek - and Washington County in Pennsylvania - Burgettstown and Tri-State Christian - are invited each year.
Schools already have been notified, so if you are a junior at one of the participating schools and interested in taking part, reach out to your guidance counselor or business teacher to see if there is still any availability.
For full transparency, I'm involved with the chamber, including serving as chair of the Education Committee which organizing the symposium. Even before that, though, just through my news coverage of the event, I've enjoyed seeing it coming together.
The symposium is named to honor Barbara Matey, whom many knew for her work at Hancock County Savings Bank, but who also was a lifelong educator. Barbara's passion for teaching our area teens and young adults was unmatched, and her enthusiasm for the symposium was an inspiration. For me, and she probably never knew this, she was a bit of a mentor, showing the importance of community service and preparing the next generation.
After her passing in 2013, the chamber felt it was only appropriate the event she put so much of herself into carry her name.
Events like these, though, need support from the community as well. The Chamber currently is reaching out to area businesses in the hope they may want to contribute to this year's symposium. There always is a need for volunteers, especially those to serve as facilitators to work with the teens. Many of those spots already are taken, but if you are interested, please reach out to the Chamber to see if there is an opportunity.
There also is a need for financial contributions. As you can probably imagine, there is a need for a lot of space with 120 teens as well as the adult volunteers. That usually means making use of a rental hall or banquet facility. Lunch is also provided.
No matter their plans for the future, there is a benefit from this event for just about anyone. The day includes discussions in areas of business, including marketing and product development, but also things to help in everyday life such as budgeting. Participants receive tips on filling out a resume as well as suggestions for participating in a job interview.
Many of these students are at the age where they may already have started at their first job, but there's always an opportunity for them to learn and prepare for their future, whether they go to a two- or four-year college, join the military, enroll in a trade school or find a job right after high school.
I wish this program was around when I was that age, and now, I'm seeing people who had the benefit of the symposium who are becoming part of the business community as well as community leaders.
It really is worth it.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)