In a shining example of collaboration and community commitment, career coaches from ten surrounding high schools joined forces to create an extraordinary opportunity for students interested in skilled trades and post-graduation careers. With the support of a generous grant from Wiregrass RC&D, the group organized a hands-on, immersive experience with three of the area’s largest and most impactful companies—Wiley Sanders Truck Lines, Sanders Lead Company, and KW Plastics.

This unique career day, planned in collaboration with Katie Davis of KW Plastics, KW Container, and KW Plastics Recycling Division, brought together students showing early interest in fields like trucking, mechanics, manufacturing, and industrial operations. The experience was designed not only to inform students about the various career paths available locally, but also to equip them with real-world insights and practical job-readiness skills, including interview techniques and professional behavior.

The idea for this collaborative initiative began as conversations between the career coaches at the surrounding high schools— Charles Henderson, Goshen, Pike County, Luverne, Highland Home, Brantley, Enterprise, New Brockton, Kinston and Zion Chapel. Each school had students expressing curiosity and ambition toward entering the workforce directly after graduation, particularly in industries that are vital to the regional economy.

By pooling their resources and applying for the Wiregrass RC&D grant as a united front, the coaches were able to secure funding to provide transportation, meals, and materials for the event. Most importantly, the grant allowed them to create a memorable and impactful experience that could resonate far beyond a single day.

“This opportunity is about more than just job exposure,” said Angela Brockman, Career Coach at Enterprise High School. “It’s about planting seeds of confidence and curiosity. Many of these students had never set foot in an industrial setting, let alone spoken to hiring managers and executives. Seeing them ask questions and interact with the employees was amazing.”

Students began the day at Wiley Sanders Truck Lines, where they received a behind-the-scenes look at one of the region’s most well-known transportation companies. From learning how dispatch for the drivers is handled to exploring the maintenance bays and learning about CDL requirements, students got to see the heartbeat of the trucking industry in motion.

Representatives from Sanders Lead Company visited the students, where they gained insight into the complexities of recycling and manufacturing lead products. KW Plastics, KW Recycling and KW Container, were represented by Katie Davis who helped organize this event, and welcomed the students with open arms and given an up-close look at how the company transforms used plastics into new, sustainable materials used across countless industries.

“We were thrilled to host these bright and eager students,” Davis said. “KW Plastics is passionate about education and workforce development. It was exciting to show them the many career possibilities that exist right here at home, and to be part of something that could help shape their future.”

Beyond the tours and industry overviews, the day also included an interactive session focused on interview techniques and soft skills. Katie Davis led this portion of the program, offering tips on resume preparation, how to dress for success, and how to answer interview questions confidently.

Students participated in mock interviews with Davis, allowing them to practice their communication skills in a supportive environment.

This was one of the most valuable parts of the day,” Brockman added. “Having Katie share real interview questions and discuss how to answer – and then letting the students practice their answers – was powerful. You could see their confidence growing the more they participated. These are the kinds of things we, as career coaches, practice with students at school. But them having the chance to practice in an actual workplace with an HR manager really made an impact.”

With a renewed focus on connecting education to employment, the collaboration between the ten schools, Wiregrass RC&D, and local industry partners is setting a powerful example for what’s possible when community stakeholders rally around a shared goal: preparing the next generation for successful, meaningful careers.