EDGE Encounter gives students first step toward future careers

RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. (WNKY) – Eighth graders in Logan County are getting an early look at their future, thanks to a new workforce development initiative designed to guide students from middle school all the way to a career.

The EDGE Encounter, held Wednesday, brought together students from Logan, Todd and Russellville school systems for a hands-on career exploration experience. The event serves as the starting point of the five-year EDGE program, short for Educating and Developing Generations for Employment.

“This is the edge encounter opportunity for eighth graders… to come and learn about a wide variety of careers and opportunities that will be available to them after they graduate,” said Dan Costellow, superintendent of Logan County Schools.

Students explored exhibits from local industries including agriculture, banking, healthcare and public service, many featuring interactive, hands-on demonstrations.

“It’s really important that we expose them to a wide range of career opportunities, starting even in middle school,” Costellow said.

But the experience doesn’t end there.

After the initial eighth-grade encounter, students move into “Real World Wednesdays” as freshmen, weekly opportunities to hear directly from employers, ask questions and learn what different careers actually look like on the job.

As sophomores, students take the next step by selecting a career area and visiting a workplace for a more focused, hands-on experience.

Junior year builds on that foundation with a five-day job shadow, allowing students to immerse themselves in a specific role and gain a deeper understanding of day-to-day responsibilities.

By senior year, students can participate in real work experience, through internships, part-time jobs or co-op programs, giving them a chance to earn income while building skills before graduation.

Organizers say the goal is to not only prepare students for careers, but to connect them with opportunities close to home.

“We want to introduce the students as soon as we can to all that’s available here in Logan County and Todd County to work and to become a career for them,” said Brooke Waldrup, president and CEO of the Logan Economic Alliance for Development.

Local employers say the program benefits both students and the community.

“We’re here to inform and educate kids on jobs and what it takes to earn a career when you graduate from high school,” said Chad Hall, president of Logan County Marketing.

Students say the hands-on approach is already making an impact.

“I think it’s a great experience for everyone to kind of get to see every career path and get to know more things that you might not think you would enjoy,” Ali Reding, a student at Auburn Middle said.

Others say it’s changing how they think about their future.

“There’s a lot of things in our life close to us that we could do without having to go far away to enjoy your job,” Reding added.

Through each step, the EDGE program is designed to give students clearer direction, helping them turn early exposure into informed decisions, and eventually, into careers within their own community.