High schoolers find pathways at career fair




Genaro Luviano tries on a police vest near the Pleasanton Police Department booth at Pleasanton Career Fair 2018 with Casey Bermudez looking on. TOM FIRME | PLEASANTON EXPRESS

Genaro Luviano tries on a police vest near the Pleasanton Police Department booth at Pleasanton Career Fair 2018 with Casey Bermudez looking on. TOM FIRME | PLEASANTON EXPRESS

High school juniors and seniors from 10 high schools perused a variety of future opportunities at Pleasanton Carteer Fair 2018, which was organized by EMC Strategy Group.

“We’re looking to highlight colleges and immediate job opportunities,” said Ernie Gonzalez of EMC Strategy Group. “We’re really pleased with the amount of students that showed up.”

Students from Pleasanton, Jourdanton, Poteet and Charlotte were among those who attended the fair.

Charlotte senior Christian Estrada excitedly picked up his Border Patrol tote bag after talking with agents at the booth.

“Everything’s cool. The Border Patrol is cool. I want to go into criminal justice. If I can’t go into the Border Patrol, I’ll go into being a border agent. Or I’ll go into Border Patrol and work my way up to being an agent. It’d be fun,” he said.

The Border Patrol was among the law enforcement agencies at the career fair, along with the Pleasanton Police Department, Alamo Area Law Enforcement Agency and the Texas Highway Patrol.

“The Pleasanton Police Department is here looking for local people to join,” Pleasanton Police Chief Ronald Sanchez said.

The police department had boys at their booth putting on vests and doing push-ups while vested.

Also, every military branch except the Air Force was among the 32 agencies represented.

Coastal Bend College and Southwest Schools promoted educational opportunities.

Pleasanton High School senior Kymbra Sangalli showed interest in a nursing program.

“I’m not sure if I want to go into business and real estate or nursing,” she said.

HEB and Weir Oil and Gas were among the businesses presenting job opportunities.

Workforce Solutions Alamo offered help with resumes, finding work experience and tuition assistance.

“We help with up to $15,000 in tuiton,” said Workforce Solutions Alamo Youth Career Counselor Sylvia Guerra.

Evonne Butler, a 22-year-old certified medical assistant representing Southwest Schools, highligihted how important the tuition assistance program is for low-income youth.

Butler, a graduate of Breckinridge High School in San Antonio, did not know what she wanted to do in college and eventually found herself broke and pregnant before she learned about the program and now has hopes of becoming a registered nurse.

“I was angry no one told me sooner. I was at my last resort. I was pregnant. They paid for my scrubs. They paid for my bus ticket,” she said. “I come from a very poor house. Now, I’m the breadwinner of my family.”

Also, Pleasanton Mayor Travis Hall, Dr. Espinoza of Coastal Bend College and Workforce Solutions Alamo CEO George Hempee spoke to the students.

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