The Career Exploration Fair is an event designed to expose Freshman students to a variety of career opportunities that exist in the Battle Creek area. The fair helps students get a better understanding of the jobs and industries they’ve been matched to based upon their interest and aptitudes and allows them to explore each of the BCCHS Career Academies career pathways before selecting a pathway to follow from 10th-12th grade.

For more information check out the detailed overview below!

2023-24 Career Fair

The 23-24 Career Exploration Fair will take place on October 19th. Please explore the Community Partners coming to the 23-24 Fair below!

Engineering & Skilled Trades Pathway Pathway

• Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights

  • The MRCC is more than just a union. It’s a brotherhood of skilled tradesmen and women who take real pride in their craft. Carpenters and millwrights are committed to their skilled trade, standing together to keep the union and Michigan’s economy strong.

• Western Michigan University - College of Engineering

  • Our students are curious, driven and innovative thinkers who aren’t afraid to try new things and build something new. That’s why the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences focuses on preparing students for a successful, meaningful career. With 14 undergraduate degrees, 12 master's level programs and eight doctoral programs as well as impactful, experiential-learning opportunities, you’ll achieve your vision for the future and find your path to success at Western.

• Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union

  • Since its founding in 1865, the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers has actively fought to improve our members’ quality of life – on and off the job – through access to fair wages, good benefits, safe working conditions, and solidarity among members. Today, we represent the most highly skilled trowel trades craftworkers across the United States and Canada including bricklayers, stone and marble masons, cement masons, plasterers, tilesetters, terrazzo and mosaic workers, and pointers/ cleaners/ caulkers. With over a century of protecting the rights of our workers, BAC is the oldest continuous union in North America.

• Kellogg Community College - RMTC

  • The Regional Manufacturing Technology Center is Kellogg Community College’s campus for Industrial Trades and Workforce Solutions. Located at 405 Hill Brady Road in the Fort Custer Industrial Park in Battle Creek, the facility is built like a true industrial facility, with hundreds of working machines, technical tools and equipment in dozens of training labs to offer students and trainees hands-on, real-world experience in their chosen career field.

• TC Transcontinental

  • TC Transcontinental is a leader in flexible packaging in the United States, Canada and Latin America. It is also Canada’s largest printer. Our mission is simple: create products and services that allow businesses to attract, reach and retain their target customers. In this pursuit, we are firmly guided by our vision to become a market leader in flexible packaging in North America while maintaining our position as Canada’s largest printer.

• Duncan Aviation

  • Duncan Aviation is a maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility providing complete "tip-to-tail" service for corporate and privately owned aircraft. We do everything from routine inspections, major repairs, interior modifications and custom exterior paint designs. The only thing we don't do is build airplanes. Our team members touch every part of the aircraft we work on - including engines, avionics (think electronics for airplanes), and landing gear just to name a few. The aircraft used by our customers are necessary for the efficient operation of their business (or fly to the Bahamas for vacay if that's their jam). Without the services provided by our high quality team members, these aircraft would not be operational and, in turn, their business operations could be impacted.

• BASF

  • At BASF, we are passionate about chemistry and our customers. We want to be the world’s leading chemical company for our customers, grow profitably and create value for society. Thanks to our expertise, our innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, and the power of our Verbund integration, we make a decisive contribution to changing the world for the better. This is our goal. This is what drives us and what we do best: We create chemistry for a sustainable future.

• DENSO

  • DENSO is a global company focused on advanced mobility that positively changes how the world moves and contributes to greater well-being. As a global Fortune 500 company, we have a broad product portfolio and widespread global impact. We are a trusted Tier 1 automotive supplier and influencer providing thermal, powertrain, mobility, electrification, & electronic systems to carmakers and other manufacturers around the world.

• Ironworkers Local 25 - Lower Peninsula

  • Iron Workers Local 25’s Training Center has a mission. That mission is to provide our contractors with the best trained, highly skilled, safe, and productive iron workers possible. This will ensure that our contractors and customers get the best value for their dollar. To ensure that we accomplish this goal we have built a state of the art training center in Wixom, MI. The new training center is a 31,500 square foot facility that provides classroom and hands on training for all jurisdictions of the ironworking trade. This includes 7,500 square feet of office/classroom space, and 24,000 square feet of shop for hands on training.

• Western Michigan University - College of Aviation

  • Keep your head in the clouds and land your dream career at the College of Aviation. With one of the most advanced training fleets and equipment available in collegiate aviation, we’ve been able to create a world-class professional program consistently viewed as one of the best in the world.

• Grand Valley State University - Padnos College of Engineering and Computing

  • The School of Engineering provides unique educational opportunities for students interested in engineering concepts and their practical application at both the undergraduate and masters levels. Our mission is to prepare students to assume engineering positions in industry with the potential to advance to leadership positions. 

• Calhoun Area Career Center

  • Career and technical education is about helping students, workers, and lifelong learners of all ages fulfill their working potential (Association for Career and Technical Education, 2008). The Calhoun Area Career Center (CACC) integrates academic knowledge with technical skills, providing well rounded educational opportunities for any student serviced by the Calhoun Intermediate School District. We are not just preparing students for jobs after high school. Students today need more than just a high school education, and our mission is to prepare them for their post-secondary journey. Integrating technical and career training gives meaning and relevance to their academics.

• Battle Creek Transit

  • Battle Creek Transit (BCT) is responsible for providing public transit service to Battle Creek area residents. Regular route bus service is provided throughout the City of Battle Creek, with limited stops in the City of Springfield and the Townships of Bedford, Emmett, and Pennfield. 

Finance Pathway

• Advia Credit Union

  • Advia Credit Union's mission is to provide financial advantages. We look to proactively seek the quickest and easiest solutions available for members to maximize the financial value provided to them. Our name means something – we provide advice, we are member advocates, and we offer advantages. We do this via innovative financial solutions. Advia Credit Union became official on January 1, 2014, but our story began long before that. Credit Unions are member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperatives, designed to offer lower cost financial products and services. Our industry has flourished since the philosophy of "people helping people" was founded with the first credit union in 1908. The services we offer are similar to those provided by banks, but our business philosophy differs in that our shareholders (our members) are provided return in the forms of lower service charges, better rates on deposits and loans, and free access to convenient services.

• Consumers Credit Union 

  • Consumers exists to put a smile in your everyday life. When you become a member of our credit union, you become part of one big family. And just like your family, there are times you need to reach out for help and times you want to go about your day knowing there won’t be any bumps in the road. We have the products and financial services that allow you to do just that—bank how you want, when you want—and we have fun doing it!

• Marshall Community Credit Union

  • MCCU was established in 1951 and is a full service financial institution proactively promoting the credit union philosophy of "people helping people." We provide high earnings on savings, low rates on loans, no annual fee credit cards, home financing -- the list of services is endless. The credit union also offers convenient services such as online banking, MCCU Mobile App, instant issue debit cards, mobile deposit and much more.

• Greenleaf Trust

  • With specialized disciplines in wealth management, trust administration, retirement plan administration, and family office services, Greenleaf Trust’s approach is focused and strategic. As one of Michigan’s first privately held and managed trust-only banks, our independence frees us from conflicts of interest and ensures our clients’ well-being is at the center of every decision we make. Despite our name, you don’t need a trust to work with us. Clients of every makeup and legal framework rely on us to meet their wants and needs. With approximately 170 team members working from Kalamazoo, Birmingham, Grand Rapids, Traverse City, Bay Harbor, and Midland, we adhere to the highest standards of fiduciary excellence, while providing customized solutions and highly personal service.

Business Pathway

• SGK & Equator

  • In a noisy, fragmented, complex world, simplicity amplifies results. At SGK, we help simplify how marketing gets done. We remove complexity to create opportunity and value throughout every aspect of marketing, giving brands the freedom to speak louder, scale faster and grow stronger.

• Battle Creek Unlimited 

  • Generating investment and job creation in our community. Our services are centered around our mission, by assisting new and growing companies or those looking to relocate to find resources they need to build their business. This includes not only site selection, but also redevelopment assistance, workforce research, access to financing and other incentives or resources to help them make the most of their investments in Battle Creek. For over 50 years, Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) has helped people and businesses find ways to create economic opportunity in Southwest Michigan.  BCU, a private, nonprofit corporation, serves as the business and economic development arm for the City of Battle Creek.

• Leila Arboretum Society

  • Don’t be misled by the word society in our name. LAS began as a hard-working cadre of people willing to get their hands and knees dirty–and remains so today. With membership and volunteers numbering in the hundreds, the arboretum has been reborn and the love for natural spaces and gardening places has translated into friendships, a downtown that has drawn national attention, neighborhood landscaping projects, city gateway plantings, classes that lead to master gardener certification and sheer enjoyment! Next door to the arboretum, the nonprofit built a one-acre Kaleidoscope Garden that has enticed representatives from cities throughout the country, as well as a few from Australia, to see how it was done!

• Battle Creek Area Association of REALTORS

  • We are an Association of REALTOR® Members, Appraiser Members, and Affiliate Members serving the housing and real estate industry. Our members are also a part of the Michigan Association of REALTORS®, and the National Association of REALTORS®. We serve Battle Creek, Marshall, Albion and the entirety of Calhoun County. Our members adhere to a strict code of ethics to protect consumers, the community and private property rights. We are also a member of the Michigan Regional Information Center, a corporation of REALTOR® Associations in southwest Michigan who share multiple listing data. With all these tools and connections, we bring buyers and sellers together to achieve the goal of home ownership.

• Goodwill CMH

  • Goodwill Industries of Central Michigan’s Heartland is a private, CARF accredited, nonprofit organization that has been serving the community since 1953. At Goodwill, we help individuals with barriers to employment experience the Power of Work. Through workforce development programs, we provide training, support services, and career opportunities.

• Charitable Union

  • Founded in 1887, Charitable Union is a small, local non-profit organization that helps provide clothes and bedding to children, families and veterans in Calhoun County, Michigan area. Donations from local residents make it possible for us to help more than 11,000 people throughout Calhoun County every year. A few things set us apart from other places such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army in Battle Creek. For one, we provide clothes, bedding and household items for free to those in need. We also help people prepare for independence and self-sufficiency so they won’t need our services anymore—this allows us to continually help new people who need our help.

• Ink Station Tattoo

  • Since beginning my journey in the commercial art field, my dedication to the work, and motivation to grow have led me to exceptional projects and experiences. I’m grateful for a profession I’m passionate about, and I’m proud to share my works with everyone. We are absolutely excited to bring a fresh professional perspective to the art of tattooing, all while providing an inviting atmosphere that any tattoo recipient can feel at home in. 

• The Salon Professional Academy

  • A culture of support and inclusivity for our students is at the very heart of what we are all about. We want our graduates to love and stay in this industry for a lifetime; innovating, educating, and elevating the profession to new heights! TSPA utilizes highly skilled educators who are passionate about the industry and their students and who pass on the training necessary for graduates to become leaders. We work directly with one of the country’s most successful beauty brands, REDKEN 5th AVE NYC, to provide our students access to the skills and training that are highest in demand in salons and spas all across the world. When you’re ready to pursue your creativity and channel your passion to change lives, make your choice The Salon Professional Academy.

Information Technology Pathway

• WMU- College of Business & Computer Engineering Systems

  • Businesses are growing their positions in information technology more quickly than they can fill needed roles. This shortage of qualified IT professionals means that you will have many opportunities for a fulfilling career and may be entertaining multiple job offers even before graduation! Whether your interest is in cybersecurity, systems design, software implementation, analytics or e-commerce, we have a program that will fit your talents and the future you are looking to create. 

• MI Air National Guard

  • The 110th Attack Wing provides creative solutions to international and domestic challenges by applying advanced capabilities for the 21st century. The 110th ATKW delivers exemplary Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance to various federal and state entities with the MQ-9 ""Reaper"" as well as combat-ready personnel to support toe command and control of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe/U.S. Air Forces Africa, as well as aiding any emergency response within the state of Michigan.

• Cybersecurity/ Western Michigan University

  • Cybersecurity is about being on the offensive and defensive at all times. That's why we created a cutting-edge cybersecurity program with three different levels of instruction, so you can choose your professional route in this in-demand, future-forward industry. With our cybersecurity bachelor's degree, you'll build a strong foundation and learn the intricacies of this rapidly evolving field. In our master's in cybersecurity, you'll hone your skills and set yourself apart from your peers. You can showcase your expertise in an industry niche by earning our graduate certificate in cybersecurity. No matter your program, you will gain a diversified knowledge base of the infrastructure that prevents breaches and cyberattacks. Be prepared to make a real difference.

• R Tech Guys

  • We are IT professionals ready to serve your technology needs. Locally owned and operated in beautiful Richland, Michigan since 2009. We offer a wide variety of services aimed at small business clients.  Our mission is to be youR-Tech Guys; to provide exceptional technical service at the highest quality. Specializing in cybersecurity for small businesses. We want to keep you and your customer's data safe and secure. We strive for no downtime by being proactive versus reactive to your technical needs. 

• 3Eye Technologies/OuterFactor

  • 3Eye brings together innovative mobile computing, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies with world-class services. As a specialist technology distributor, we apply our insight, energy, and know-how to bring vendors and partners together to drive business. We’re investing in the future, innovating, and improving how the channel works, accelerating digital transformation for vendors, partners, and end-customers. Discover how we are helping our partners grow their businesses, and sell, buy and manage technology in a changing landscape.

Public Safety Pathway

• MI Air National Guard

  • The 110th Attack Wing provides creative solutions to international and domestic challenges by applying advanced capabilities for the 21st century. The 110th ATKW delivers exemplary Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance to various federal and state entities with the MQ-9 ""Reaper"" as well as combat-ready personnel to support toe command and control of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe/U.S. Air Forces Africa, as well as aiding any emergency response within the state of Michigan.

• S.A.F.E Place

  • S.A.F.E. Place exists to provide safety to, empower and advocate for victims of domestic violence  and sex trafficking and their families.

  • S.A.F.E. Place stresses early intervention, strengthening families, and providing a continuum of care through community resources and referrals.

  • S.A.F.E. Place provides programs designed to increase the safety and well being of domestic violence survivors and their children.

• Battle Creek Fire Department

  • The Battle Creek Fire Department shall provide responsive quality emergency services and public safety education to our community that promotes safety, well-being, and the enhancement of quality of life for all visitors and residents. The Battle Creek Fire Department strives for industry best practice and excellence in emergency preparedness, response, and mitigation. Our efforts are customer-focused, innovative, and driven toward world-class emergency services delivery.

• Battle Creek Police Department 

  • We are committed to ensuring the public safety of all our residents and guests, providing a full spectrum of police services that enable this department to respond efficiently and effectively to meet our community's safety needs. We are proud of this department and its many members, and we know that you are, too. The Battle Creek Police Department has a responsibility to our community to deliver proactive and creative community policing strategies and an obligation to treat all in our community with dignity, respect, honor and compassion.

• Battle Creek Police Department - Explorer Program

  • Law Enforcement Exploring is the preeminent career orientation and experience program for young people contemplating a career in the field of criminal justice. Its mission is to offer young adults, ages 14-21, interested in a career in law enforcement a personal awareness of the criminal justice system through training, practical experiences and other activities.

Health Care Pathway

• Senior Care Partners P.A.C.E.

  • Senior Care Partners P.A.C.E brings community and wellness to older adults, enabling you to continue enjoying life through the independence of your own home. Our philosophy of care is holistic and all-inclusive—providing physical, mental/emotional and social services through our Adult Day Health Center. As a PACE program*, Senior Care Partners uses Medicare and Medicaid funding to serve members at our Adult Day Health Centers free of charge. We also welcome adults who are not on Medicaid and Medicare for an affordable monthly cost.

• Bronson Healthcare Group

  • Bronson Healthcare is the largest employer and leading healthcare system in the region. Headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the not-for-profit, community-governed healthcare system offers a full range of services from primary care to critical care across more than 70 locations. Bronson is an integral part of our local communities—not just as a partner in health, but also because we live and work here. From all-private hospital rooms, to surrounding ourselves with the best talent in healthcare, to benchmarking our clinical performance against high national standards — we are committed to providing outstanding medical care and an exceptional patient experience. Thanks to the efforts of more than 9,000 employees and our 1,300 member medical staff, Bronson is ranked among the best healthcare organizations in the nation in many categories of performance

• MyEyeDr.

  • In 2001, MyEyeDr. opened its first location with a broader mission to re-invent the eye care and eyewear experience. Originally the purpose was to help patients live their best lives, and that purpose lives on today.  MyEyeDr. is committed to providing patients a personalized eye care experience by trusted local optometrists.  A great selection of designer, luxury, and budget frames, a commitment to maximizing insurance benefits, and ensuring the latest in lens solutions are promises that our patients count on.

• Grand Valley State University - College of Health Professions

  • The GVSU College of Health Professions mission is to prepare exceptional professionals who will impact the health and well-being of the larger community.

• Grand Valley State University - Allied Health

  • The term Allied Health is used to identify a cluster of health professions, encompassing as many as 200 health careers. There are 5 million allied health care providers in the U.S., who work in more than 40 different professions and represent approximately 60% of all health care providers. Even so, this is just a drop in the bucket in terms of how many allied health care workers are needed to meet current and future healthcare needs in America. When you work in allied health, you are involved—directly or indirectly—with patient health, and you are regarded as an expert in your field. Some allied health professionals practice independently; others work as part of a health care team, providing continual evaluation and assessment of patient needs. They also play a major role in informing the attending clinician of the patient's progress and response to treatment.

• Grand Valley State University - Applied Food and Nutrition

  • Grand Valley State University's Bachelor of Science in Applied Food and Nutrition (AFN) program is an innovative Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) incorporating elements of competency-based education. The bachelor’s program is part of Grand Valley's School of Interdisciplinary Health, which sits within the College of Health Professions.

• Grand Valley State University - Recreational Therapy/ School of Interdisciplinary Health

  • Recreational Therapy (RecTx) is the specialized application of recreation and experiential activities or interventions that help maintain or improve the health status, functional capacities, and ultimately the quality of life for persons with disabilities and chronic conditions. The recreational therapy major is a four-year academic curriculum plus one semester of internship leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Graduates are prepared to meet consumer health needs in a dynamic and culturally diverse world by completing a comprehensive curriculum that includes theoretical and practical experience and application. Students need to be able to use clinical reasoning skills such as problem solving, formulating concepts, making judgments, analyzing behaviors and tasks, and determining appropriate intervention.

• Summit Pointe

  • For nearly half a century Summit Pointe has been helping people with mental health illness and developmental disability reclaim their independence, regain confidence and learn skills necessary for success. Our success is based upon the success of the community and people we serve. Our goal is helping individuals build inner strength, realize their potential and enjoy the happiness they deserve. Summit Pointe provides the highest quality behavioral health services to help individuals maximize their potential.

• LifeCare Ambulance

  • LifeCare Ambulance is a non-profit Emergency Medical System organization that serves in 6 Michigan counties. We provide high-quality emergency and non-emergency transport care and are known for being a leader in EMS and for the compassion and caliber of our employees. If you are interested in any medical field, emergency medical services with LifeCare is the best place to begin your career. Whether you plan to work with us for five years or 25, a career in EMS is easy to start and will help you for life. Our employees respond with Fire and Police departments to thousands of different medical emergencies every year, and, as an EMT, you are able to treat and triage these patients. Our employees continue on to work as paramedics, firefighters, police officers, nurses, doctors, and more.

• Sweet Magnolia Massage

  • Come and experience the calm and stillness at Sweet Magnolia’s Massage and Wellness Center and emerge into the world renewed and invigorated. Don't you deserve to achieve calm relaxation and peace inside and out? Let us help you discover that sense of wellness!

Nursing Pathway

• Bronson Battle Creek

  • When you join Team Bronson, you join a team that cares for each other as much as they care for their patients. You’ll experience Bronson Positivity and what it’s like to be supported and valued as a team member. Whether you are a new grad or have 20+ years of experience, we have a variety of nursing roles for you to choose from. RN and LPN positions; Full-time, part-time and PRN jobs; Work in one department at one hospital, or travel across the system

• Grand Valley State University - Kirkhof College of Nursing

  • At Grand Valley State University, we believe nursing is not only a profession, it is a calling honored by exceptional learning experiences and partnerships beginning in education. We offer dedicated advising, convenient delivery formats, exceptional faculty, significant support resources, and rich learning experiences to help you build and expand a rewarding career.

• Pinnacle Care

  • PinnacleCare offers personalized health care support for you and your family 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We understand the tremendous impact your health has on your lifestyle, and we’re committed to doing whatever it takes to help you live the life you’ve imagined.

• Battle Creek VA Medical Center

  • Our main campus provides primary care and specialty health services, including treatment for hearing loss (audiology), treatment for vision loss, dental care, nutrition counseling, hospice and palliative care, mental health services, laboratory services, treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more.

Education Pathway 

• Kingman Collections (formerly Kingman Museum)

  • Kingman Museum is a natural history museum and planetarium located on the grounds of thebeautiful Leila Arboretum. Our mission is to be a resource and destination for lifelong learning opportunities in the Earth & space sciences, along with cultures around the world. We contribute to this end with fun engaging programs and museum exhibits reaching local families and school youth. Kingman seeks to create a strong and sustainable sense of place for the city of Battle Creek by building respect and appreciation for our planet and all its inhabitants. Educating visitors with our 20,000 piece collection including rocks, fossils, animals, and cultural materials helps the development of dispositions, skills, practices, and knowledge that enable all students to succeed in science learning.

• Community Action

  • Community Action is one of 27 Community Action Agencies in the State of Michigan dedicated to promoting economic and social opportunities that help people achieve greater independence, dignity, and self-sufficiency. Community Action serves residents of Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph Counties, and targets its programs and services to the specific needs of those communities.  Last year, Community Action provided assistance to more than 13,800 children, seniors, and low-income individuals in its five-county service area.

• Battle Creek College Access Network

  • We are committed to providing relentless community leadership to connect students to college and career opportunities for a brighter future. We establish a college-going culture by nurturing and guiding students of all ages with support and resources to make education after high school a reality. We are a small, but mighty, team of 2! We have fun working with students and providing community resources and access to education resources related to Legacy Scholars and college related topics.

• Calhoun Intermediate School District

  • The administrative offices for the CISD are centrally located in the middle of the county, just north of Marshall. From these offices and throughout the county, more than 460 committed employees serve the member districts in Calhoun County. Our annual budget of approximately $81.8 million is funded by permanent charter millage, federal and state appropriations, fee for service programs, special projects, and grants.  In addition to managing much of Calhoun County's educational services, CISD owns and operates the Doris Klaussen Developmental Center and Calhoun Area Career Center and in Battle Creek, operates the instructional program at the Calhoun County Youth Center, in Marshall.

• WMU College of Education and Human Development

  • The College of Education and Human Development at Western Michigan University is a diverse and vibrant institution of professional education, preparing individuals annually for leadership in their fields. The college is comprised of six departments: counselor education and counseling psychology; special education and literacy studies; family and consumer sciences; human performance and health education; teaching, learning and educational studies; and educational leadership, research and technology.

• Battle Creek Outdoor Education Center

  • The Outdoor Education Center (OEC), commonly called 'Clear Lake Camp', is a division of the Battle Creek Public School System (BCPS). We are located on Clear Lake in Dowling, Michigan. We offer a serene rural environment less than an hour's drive from Lansing, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. As the oldest school camp in the nation, we have been offering programs to supplement school curriculum for over 60 years. We currently offer overnight and day programs to schools located across southern Michigan. In addition, we host weddings, family retreats, and workshops. With 175-acres of forests, fields, and lakeshore, the OEC is the perfect setting for groups to connect with nature.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan

  • Every child has potential. It’s our job to defend it. Since 1958, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan has worked to ignite the power and promise of local youth. Thanks to our community’s continued financial support, we make meaningful, monitored matches between mentors (Bigs) and children (Littles), ages 6 through 18, in Kalamazoo, Allegan, Calhoun, and Van Buren counties.

• Willard Library

  • Willard Library serves residents around Battle Creek, MI. Established in 1840, it is one of the oldest libraries in Michigan.  Charles Willard, upon his death in 1897, bequeathed $40,000 for a public school library in Battle Creek. With two locations, the library is a valuable resource for residents offering books, a vast digital collection including audio books, e-books, DVDs, music, magazines, movies, and TV shows in a variety of formats. The library circulates more than 1 million items a year and has librarians skilled in local resources and all aspects of reading for pleasure and research. The downtown library, 7 W. Van Buren Street, and the Helen Warner Branch, located at 36 Minges Creek Place, have dozens of computers available for public use. The Children’s Room and Teen Room feature weekly activities for all ages. The library offers local history archives, an extensive historical newspaper collection, and information helpful in researching genealogy.

• Burma Center

  • The Burma Center has been supporting the Burmese American community and the entire Springfield and Battle Creek area for years, bringing the dream of a truly multicultural society right into our neighborhoods. The Burma Center directly assists the hundreds of local Burmese American residents with advocacy, employment, translation, health and wellness, youth programs, and more. 

• Grand Valley State University - College of Education and Community Innovation

  • Grand Valley State University's Education programs are an ideal choice for undergraduate and graduate students to study the fields of education, teaching, and counseling. Offering courses in the field of education and teaching since 1964, GVSU provides high quality programs with small class sizes. With a commitment to educational principles such as active learning, interaction of theory and practice, and learning relevancy, the Education programs offer students the type of personalized attention needed to become leaders in their fields

• Voces

  • Voces is a warm and inviting space where the LatinX community of Greater Battle Creek and Southwest Michigan can come together and receive empowering support in a variety of ways. OUr name, which means “voices” in Spanish, was chosen by the community to represent our mission and goal of “Many Voices, One Community.”  Voces prides itself in being able to support students and families holistically. There are various entry points when working with families, and education is one of the major ones.  If you want to make a difference in your community, have your voice heard, and impact major systems and policies in Calhoun County, Voces could be a great employment match for you!.

Passport

During the Career Exploration Fair you will be given a passport to fill out. 

When you visit a station at the fair you will engage in a hands-on activity with community partner. After you complete the activity - 

• Ask for a stamp from a business in EACH pathway represented at the Fair

• For each stamp - 

  • Write the name of the company you received the stamp from

  • Write one thing you learned from that company

• At the end of the Fair, turn in your completed passport to the bin with your Freshman Seminar teacher’s name on it, located near the exit

23-24 Career Exploration Fair Map

Highlights From Previous Fairs!