'There's so many options out there': FPC hosts second annual Career Expo

The goal of the Career Expo, FPC Dean Anthony Robinson said, is to give students an opportunity to learn about career opportunities outside of just attending college.

By Sierra Williams
| 10:03 p.m. January 28, 2024

East Flagler Mosquito Control brought its helicopter to the FPC Career Expo. Photo by Sierra Williams

Heather Hall Alcala, a FPC senior, in the pilot seat of East Flagler Mosquito Control's helicopter. Photo by Sierra Williams

Antonio Cunha is a pilot for East Flagler Mosquito Control's helicopter. FPC students got a chance to sit in the helicopter's pilot seat. Photo by Sierra Williams

East Flagler Mosquito Control outreach specialist Nicole Graves at the FPC Career Expo. Photo by Sierra Williams

East Flagler Mosquito Control outreach specialist Nicole Graves brought activities for FPC students. Photo by Sierra Williams

East Flagler Mosquito Control outreach specialist Nicole Graves hands out toys to FPC students. Photo by Sierra Williams

This car, brought to FPC from the Universal Technical Institute, had several upgrades made to it by UTI students. Photo by Sierra Williams

Adriel Gist, with Universal Technical Institute admissions marketing, brought a car worked on by UTI students and a welding simulator to the Career Expo. Photo by Sierra Williams

FPC junior Dylan Sedeyn tries out a tool FPL lineman use while supervised by Eddy Skinner, an FPL employee. Photo by Sierra Williams

FPL lineman Keith and Jacob Purvis, father and son, talk to FPC students Honesty Ray and Oreo Maddox. Photo by Sierra Williams

Kerri Henderson, with FCSO's Police Athletic League, and transportation supervisor Geri Drayton at the FPC Career Expo. Photo by Sierra Williams

FPC Student Resource Officer Nick Champion plays with Nitro, a member of FCSO's K-9 unit. Photo by Sierra Williams

FCSO's Deputies Ben Stamps, Jeff Turner and Bryan Carter talked to students at the FPC Career Expo about what it is like to work at the FCSO. Photo by Sierra Williams

Petty Officer 2nd Class Eddie Bryant hosted a Navy recruitment table at the FPC Career Expo, where his siblings - Darrin and E'Shayla - are students. Photo by Sierra Williams

FTC adult education supervisor Travis Thomas had one of several tables at the Matanzas High School Career Expo. Photo by Sierra Williams

Michelle Emden, project director for Daytona State College's TRiO program, at the Career Expo at Matanzas High School. Photo by Sierra Williams

Ivan Thomas, the high school admission advisor with JTech, had a table at the Career Expo at Matanzas High School. Photo by Sierra Williams

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Anthony Robinson, a dean at Flagler Palm Coast High School, said he wants to ensure the students know what their options are upon graduating.

"They don't know what they don't know," Robinson said. "There are so many options out there."

That's why the FPC's second annual Career Expo — hosted on Jan. 24 — was so important. Representatives from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, the East Flagler Mosquito Control, Florida Power & Light, the U.S. Navy and Army and several local trade schools and technical institutes attended the expo and shared details about their career fields.

The expo focused mainly on trades or similar job opportunities instead of colleges, Robinson said, because not every student wants to go to college after high school.

He still encourages it, for those who want a college degree. But it is equally important for students to know there are more paths to success, he said.

This year the school wanted the event to be more tactile, too, Robinson said, so several companies brought their work trucks to the event. The FCSO showed off its airboat, motorcycles and SWAT van. The East Flagler Mosquito Control not only had activities for the students, but brought its helicopter out, too. The Universal Technical Institute brought a car that had been worked on by its students and a welding simulator.

Keith and Jacob Purvis — father and son — are both FPL lineman who attended the expo. Jacob Purvis said he knew college wasn't for him and he began working with FPL after seeing his father work in the field.

"All you need for this one is a high school diploma, to be a lineman," Jacob Purvis said. From there, he said, that person joins an apprenticeship program where they work and get paid while learning the trade.

Being a lineman is a trade, Keith Purvis said, just like welding and being a mechanic.

"School is not for everybody," he said. "[Trade school] gives options to the kids."

FPC senior Honesty Ray, 18, said she's already decided to go into the military after graduation, but she really enjoyed being able to learn about all the different career options.

"A lot of kids our age really don't know what they're going to do," Ray said. "So just having all these people tell you hey, you know, college isn't the only option ... I think that's a really good thing."

Robinson said he hoped the Career Expo was a "knowledge expedition" for FPC students.

"It's all about giving the kids opportunities," he said. "We're just trying to show them as much as possible."

author

Sierra Williams

Sierra Williams is a staff writer for the Palm Coast Observer covering a variety of topics, including government and crime. She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2021 with her bachelor's degree in print/digital journalism and a minor in political science. Sierra moved to Palm Coast in September 2022 and is a Florida native from Brevard County.