Submitted by Alison Dikland, Dual Credit Facilitator
The Connections Day Events hosted by St. Lawrence College (SLC) in Cornwall on October 22nd and Kingston on October 24th were a resounding success, bringing together 211 grade 7 and 8 students from local school boards, including the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, Limestone District School Board, and Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board. This immersive event aimed to introduce students to various career pathways and college programs, showcasing the diverse opportunities within the Dual Credit Program and other St. Lawrence College programs.
Connections Day offered an exciting array of engaging sessions, with seven held at the Cornwall campus and eight at the Kingston campus. Each session was thoughtfully designed to be both informative and interactive, giving students a taste of the skills and training each field offers.
These sessions spanned a wide range of fields, including Carpentry (available at both campuses), Welding (Cornwall), Fitness and Health (Kingston), Culinary Arts (Kingston), Social Service Work (Kingston), Wind Turbine Technician (Kingston), Energy Systems Engineering (Kingston), Hairstyling (Kingston), Esthetics (Kingston), Personal Support Work (Cornwall), Police Foundations (Cornwall), Game Programming and Computer Programming (Cornwall), Paramedicine (Cornwall), and Environmental Technician (Cornwall).
The hands-on nature of each session allowed students to explore real-world applications and gain valuable insights into potential career paths, while actively engaging with a variety of trades and academic disciplines.
Another highlight of the event was the support of the SLC community. Twenty-eight student volunteers dedicated their time to the Dual Credit Program, and forty-six more from various programs enthusiastically assisted and guided young participants, sharing personal insights and perspectives. With SLC faculty lending their expertise, Connections Day exemplified the college’s commitment to community engagement and student success.
Connections Day continues to offer young students an exceptional opportunity to explore potential career paths and develop an early interest in post-secondary education. The involvement of dedicated SLC students and faculty reflects the college’s supportive and inclusive learning environment, fostering community connections that inspire the next generation.
Connections Introduces Career Pathways Through SLC Programs
