A South Carolina tour bus designed to help high school students explore careers in skilled trades stopped by Oct. 25 to visit students at Polaris Tech Charter School in Ridgeland.
School officials said the visit is directly tied to the school’s mission of preparing young people for success in the workforce and college. About half of the school’s 2023 graduates entered the workforce, and the other half went on to two- and four-year college programs.
“The Be Pro Be Proud SC initiative is an initiative led by the South Carolina Associated Industries Foundation (AISCF) to bring a new generation of pride, progress, and professionalism to South Carolina’s skilled workforce,” a Polaris spokesperson said in a statement. “There is,” he said.
The mobile trade bus focuses on 16 occupations and 37 training programs. During their visit to Polaristech, groups of up to 30 middle and high school students spent 45 minutes to an hour in a mobile workshop and discovered different career options. According to the school, about 150 students participated in the event.
The school says its “Be Pro Be Proud SC” initiative will focus on growing fields such as automation and robotics, which have a median salary of about $74,000, and CAD/CAM drafting, which has a median salary of $61,000. He says he talks to students about various careers. Other careers discussed included commercial truck driver with a median salary of $47,000 and HVAC technician with a median salary of almost $72,000. Other careers included working in fiber optic jobs with an average salary of about $49,000.
“Studies show these areas are growing steadily, not just nationally, but throughout South Carolina and the Lowcountry,” said Kim Statler, executive director of Polaristech. said.
The school said Statler brings decades of experience in recruitment and economic development.
“This is a real opportunity for Polaris Tech learners to see how their career and college preparatory education here can lead to jobs with high wages and benefits,” she said.
At the same time, at Polaristech, a variety of trucks and farm equipment arrived in the parking lot for elementary school students to explore. Among those in attendance were Cleland Site Prep who brought a 2023 Kenworth truck, Southeastern Rim and Tree who brought a bucket truck, Palmetto Electric who brought a bucket truck and for the kids to see. Included was the A1 Towing that brought Spider-Man Rollback. Other vehicles included farm tractors, fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, boats and trucks.
For more information about the SC Be Pro, Be Proud initiative, please visit https://sc.beprobeproud.org/.
Polaris Tech is a free, state-licensed charter school serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade in Jasper, Colleton, Hampton, and Beaufort counties. Located across from Ridgeland Claude Dean Airport, we recently completed our campus with the opening of a new elementary school building and athletic gymnasium.
Polaris Tech focuses on several career fields, including aerospace, health sciences, and business management. Polaris Tech is still accepting student applications for next school year for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, and families can apply online at www.polaristech.org.
