A main sub focus within Gateway’s Workforce Development pillar is connecting high school students with a variety of career pathing opportunities within our investor community and beyond. This past May, Jessica Sampley, Director of Career Tech and Academies for Gulf Shores City Schools, reached out to the Gateway Initiative to help her plan and coordinate industry tours for interested high school students for the 2023-2024 school year. Last Thursday, we kicked off the first industry tour in Healthcare. Two classes at the high school got first pic on participating in the full day tour, which was Foundations of Health Sciences and Sports Medicine.
The day started at the University of South Alabama’s College of Nursing and their state of the art Simulation Lab. The students were able to experience hands-on learning on simulator patients, and loved the experience. They also received a private bus tour of the entire campus.
Next on the tour, we came back to our very own South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, who graciously provided the students lunch and spoke about the many career opportunities at the hospital. Coastal Alabama Community College’s programs in Nursing and Allied Health were also in attendance during the lunch to speak about the many opportunities at the college. Two directors at the hospital then broke the students into two groups and we toured several areas of the hospital.
There are 7 more industry tours scheduled for the remainder of the school year. Below is the schedule. If you are interested in participating and putting your business in front of these students, please contact Tyler Morgan at tyler@gatewayinitiative.com. Gateway is already in conversation with Orange Beach High School and Foley High School to implement this program in their schools for the 2024-2025 school year.
