Perry High School students in the 2021-2022 Future Ready Perry Pathways program enjoyed their fourth breakfast of the year Friday at the Hotel Pattee. The events recognize the students and staff who participate in the DMACC at Perry VanKirk Career Academy Pathways Program.
In addition to the morning breakfast, students and staff engaged in a discussion of eight key employability skills that will enhance their career readiness, including concepts such as attitude, interpersonal skills, ready to work and service-mindedness.
The morning’s featured speak was Hotel Pattee Manager Jenny Eklund, who delivered a presentation titled, “My Story, My Journey.” Eklund said her life in Perry has focused on the arts and the hospitality business, and she has been involved in the development of LaPoste, Atelier@1109, Art on the Prairie and the Willis Avenue boulevard art projects.
Lessons from Eklund’s journey story included service to others, a strong work ethic, creating a vision, dedication to seeing that vision become reality and a willingness to perform tasks beyond your job title and job description. She encouraged the students to “give your heart and soul to their community.”
Future Ready Perry is a community academic movement partnering DMACC at Perry VanKirk Career Academy, Perry Economic Development and Perry High School, all working together in pursuit of high levels of academic success and career readiness. The program connects high school student interests to future pathways, supporting and incentivizing students to stay on the pathway until they reach their goal.
The Future Ready Perry initiative consists of the Applied Engineering Pathway and the Teacher Pathway, with focus on a career path and key employability skills while enrolled in related high school and DMACC academy courses. The Pathways are entry preparation for the DMACC at Perry VanKirk Applied Engineering Academy, the Welding Academy and the Teacher Academy through the Career Advantage program.
Career Advantage provides students with high school and tuition free DMACC academic credit simultaneously and career readiness preparation for entry into the workforce or post-secondary programs.
For more information about the Future Ready Perry initiative, call Connie Saenz or Tom
Lipovac at the DMACC at Perry VanKirk Career Academy at 515-428-8100.
