Northwest-Shoals hosting 'Teen Day Info Explosion'

By Staff
Melissa Cason, Franklin County Times
Northwest Shoals Community College, Franklin County Community Education and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce are teaming up together to host an event to give eighth graders and their parents more information about which diploma to choose.
The first-ever Franklin County Teen Day Information Explosion will be held at the Northwest Shoals Community College Phil Campbell campus Tuesday, March 13.
"Franklin County's eighth graders will have do decide what kind of diploma they want to obtain prior to entering the ninth grade, and our goal is to give them more information to make that decision," Susan Hargett with Franklin County Community Education said.
The event is slated to begin at 9 a.m. and last until 2 p.m.
The students will visit booths set up by local businesses, industries, educational and non-profit groups, Hargett added.
"We want to give students and their parents as much information as possible about different careers so that students can make an informed decision about their future," Hargett said.
Besides helping the students make a decision that will affect the rest of their lives, Hargett hopes that students will realize the importance of a good work ethic after talking to the businesses that will be at the event.
"Students need to realize that building a good work ethic in school will spill over into their lives after school," Hargett said.
That evening students are asked to bring their parents so that they can be better informed about what choices their children have to make.
"Parents need to realize that attending a university is not right for everyone, and that there are good paying technical careers out there," Hargett said.
The type of diploma students pursue will affect the rest of their lives because each diploma type has different courses of study.
"A student who has an occupational diploma should want a technical career," Hargett said. "If a student who has an occupational diploma decides to go to a university, they may not be accepted because of course requirements for colleges and universities," Hargett said.
Community Education is about prevention, and Hargett wants to give parents all the information necessary for them to help their child make the best possible decisions.
The parent event will begin at 6 p.m. Door prizes will be given out to students who bring their parents to this event.
"We are giving out an iPod, and a scholarship to Northwest as two of the door prizes," Hargett said. "There will also be other prizes that will be popular with teens as well."
Franklin County School Superintendent Bill Moss is supportive of the event.
This year's event is only offered to Franklin County students but Hargett hopes that next year's event will include Russellville City Schools and may other schools from other counties.