MOUNT VERNON — It was impossible to miss a career opportunity at Energy Fieldhouse on Thursday.
Over 1,100 Knox County youth and adults toured Mount Vernon City School’s fieldhouse on Thursday, navigating around 40 employer booths.
The Knox County Career Quest Expo, led by Opportunity Knox Employment Center, ran from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., giving students a 90-minute window to talk with local employers about their aspirations after graduation.
Employers from Kokosing Construction, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and Knox Community Hospital, among others, offered interactive activities for those interested.
Andy Fox, workforce coordinator for Kokosing Construction, stood beside an orange Kokosing mini excavator. Here, students could control a wrecking ball to knock down six orange and white bowling pins.
Career seekers were able to grab a Mount Vernon Fire Department suit while, simultaneously, hurling a red hammer at a 185-pound steel beam, similar to forcing a door open or removing debris.
Mount Vernon Middle School student Austin Higgins waited in line for the virtual reality station, where you can try several job fields through VR goggles.
Higgins, expressing interest in mechanical engineering, visited 16 stations throughout the expo.
“I’m enjoying the expo so far,” Higgins said.
The expo highlighted small businesses, too, like massage and natural beauty salon House of Youth. Shauna Fontaine, a licensed massage therapist, said her company can appeal to self-employed job seekers.
Brandy Booth, the workforce administrator at Opportunity Knox Employment Center, noted that the expo buzzes with energy, attracting a mix of Knox County public school students and individuals seeking a career path.
Booth said planning for the expo began in June 2023, with the establishment of a steering committee comprising several employers and adjacent fields to aid in recruiting a wide array of job fields.