Murphy – Many of the 409 career and technical education students from Cherokee County Schools attended a career day at Murphy First Baptist Church on Thursday.
More than 30 private sector businesses, government offices, law enforcement and military recruiters participated in the event, including the Cherokee Scout.
“What a great turnout,” school board Chair Shannon Raper said later Thursday during the school board’s monthly meeting. “There were so many folks there today.”
Opportunities included the U.S. Air Force and Army; Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, county government and emergency services; State Bureau of Investigation, N.C. Highway Patrol and N.C. Department of Transportation; U.S. Forest Service; and local and regional manufacturers, service providers, retailers and media.
High school juniors and seniors were transported by bus from their schools to the career fair, which lasted four hours. Participating schools included Murphy, Andrews and Hiwassee Dam high schools, Tri-County Early College and The Oaks Academy.
Displays were set up inside the church’s fellowship hall, with some of the more interesting displays set up outside in the parking lot, where high schoolers got to meet SBI agent Isabelle Denman and her cadaver dog, Sherry; watch Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Sport Teasdale operate a surveillance drone; plus sit in and rev up a new Corvette convertible from Valley River Chevrolet.