W.F. West High School students learn about career opportunities in fields of counseling and mental health

Approximately 50 W.F. West High School students attended November’s Career Spotlight which featured professionals working in the fields of counseling and mental health. Special guest speakers were: Autumn Ledgerwood (Chehalis School District Counselor working at Chehalis Middle School and W.F. West High School), Becky Smith (Counselor at W.F. West High School) and W.F. West alumni Katie Meier (Private Practice Counselor).

Students learned about the educational requirements for a career in counseling or mental health, including advanced degree requirements and potential majors. Participants shared details about their jobs, opportunities that helped them pursue their careers, and details about what they like best about their jobs and/or what might have surprised them about their field of work.

“We are so appreciative of these wonderful and seasoned professionals who took time out of their day to share their insights, knowledge and experience with our students,” said College Prep Advisor Kerri Chaput. “Our career spotlight events would not be possible without them!”
Careers are selected based on a student interest survey. Past Career Spotlights have included the fields of education, aviation, forensic science, law enforcement, fish and wildlife, nursing, engineering, and theater, to name a few.

Monthly Career Spotlight events are part of the Student Achievement Initiative with a Career and College Readiness focus. Chehalis School District’s goal is for graduates be career prepared and successfully obtain a meaningful certificate or college degree post-graduation. Aware, eligible and prepared = ready.

On Thursday, November 7, W.F. West High School hosted the 11th annual Career and College Fair. The event featured 48 representatives from community colleges, technical colleges, universities and vocational/trade programs. W.F. West High School students were joined by students from Adna High School, with approximately 972 students attending the event to learn more about opportunities available to them after high school and to make connections with these professionals.

This event is part of the Student Achievement Initiative with a Career and College Readiness focus. Chehalis School District’s goal is for graduates be career prepared and successfully obtain a meaningful certificate or college degree post-graduation. Aware, eligible and prepared = ready.

Participating career and college representatives: Air Force and Air Force Reserve; Air Force ROTC; Air National Guard; Army; Marines; Academy of Interactive Entertainment; Central Washington University; Centralia Beauty College; Centralia Community College; Chehalis Fire Department; Clark College; Corbin University; Cornish College; Eastern Washington University; Gonzaga University; Grand Canyon University; Job Corps; Kugel Construction; Laborers Local 252; Miss Lewis Co. Scholarship Program; New Market Skills Center; Northwest Laborers; Olympia Master Builders; Pacific Lutheran University; Perry Technical Institute; ROTC Pacific Lutheran; Portland State University; Lewis County PUD; South Puget Sound Community College; Tacoma Power; St. Martin University; Trinity Western University; Twin Transit; University of Portland; Universal Technical Institute; University of Washington – Tacoma; Warner Pacific University; Washington State University; Washington State – Vancouver; Washington Tractor; Wells Fargo; West Coast Heavy Equipment Training; Western Washington University; Western Washington University; Whitworth University; Work Source; WSD Cottey College.