Graduating seniors learn about options for great jobs.
Yvonne Frye founded the Future Career Academy (FCA) in Plant City in 2015. The organization focuses on connecting students to local employers and in-demand jobs that offer long-term career growth and sustainable employment. FCA accomplishes this by cultivating relationships between Hillsborough County Public Schools, and community and business partners.
“We are so grateful to the Plant City community for the shared commitment to our youth,” Frye commented. “Our business and community leaders launched our program as a grassroots initiative 10 years ago and their support continues to sustain and provide such great support and career opportunities for our students and community members—you’ve got the FCA program info serving all 37 high schools, career, exceptional, and success centers with curriculum and experiences in our mission to prepare and connect students to the great jobs and training opportunities in their communities.”
On April 23, FCA held a Future Fair Hiring Event at the Plant City campus of Hillsborough County Community College. Buses from Plant City High schools unloaded 300 seniors for the morning event. As lines of students walked into the building, a gauntlet of staff from local employers cheered and waved pompoms and signs for them. In addition to the students, 150 adult job seekers came in the afternoon for FCA’s Best Florida Jobs event.
“I came to look for job opportunities—to see the different opportunities that are out there,” Christopher Dobard, Senior at Simmons Career Center, said. “And I found a couple—military, electrician—things like that.
“I am here to find jobs, and see what else is out there, and to explore,” Kaliyah Alexander, a senior at Simmons, said. “I am looking for medical, but I am down to try anything.”
More than 50 companies, including, BayCare, Cat Ring Power, Tri-City Electrical Contractors, and Stingray Chevrolet set up recruiting tables.
“I am out here today to showcase our apprentice program with those seniors who are graduating high school,” Allie McCarty, Career Placement Coordinator at Cat Ring Power, said. “It’s a three-year, state-accredited, diesel apprenticeship.” Throughout the three years, Ring Power pairs the apprentice with a mentor for on-the-job training. When not on the shop floor, the apprentice will be taught in a classroom setting. There are 16 of these in-person classes in areas like engine fundamentals, hydraulics, and safety. By the time someone graduates, she or he will have all of the experience and education within Ring Power to be a mid-level technician. “Starting pay for the apprentice program is $19.50 an hour,” McCarty said. “We do pay increases throughout the program. We also offer paid vacation, health, medical and dental insurance.” When the apprentices graduate, they will make $25 to $27 an hour in a job that can’t be offshored.
“Every year we do this, it gets bigger and better,” Rick Lott, former mayor of Plant City and FCA Board Member said. “We learn from the success of the past and how we can improve. What is wonderful about today is we are shining a light on opportunities for our graduates to have going forward in life, once they come out of high school.”
In addition to the hiring tables, the Future Fair Hiring Event offered breakout sections at which representatives from employers spoke to seniors about things it is vital for them to know as they enter the job market. Examples are, financial literacy, what makes a good offer, and protecting personal brands.
“We have been a part of Future Career Academy since the very beginning,” Steve Hurley, owner of Stingray Chevrolet, said. “One of the gentlemen standing next to me has been with Stingray Chevrolet nearly that entire time. He is one of our big success stories. Also, we have a technician over here standing by one of our engines—he has been with us for many years.” Both of the men got jobs through FCA, and have a tremendous future at Stingray, according to Hurley. “We are looking for talented young people. And it is a fantastic opportunity to let these students, who are not going to get a four-year degree, know that they have options. They can be anything they want to be.”
Throughout the course of the year, FCA curriculum is used in senior English classes in all of Hillsborough County high schools to teach things like how to write a résumé, interview skills, dressing for success, and the elevator speech. During the school year, FCA also takes seniors on tours of the offices and facilities of local employers.
“As a School Board Member, representing District 4, I believe what Future Careers Academy is doing is really providing opportunities, especially to our seniors as they move into the next aspect of their life following graduation,” Patti Rendon said. “Wednesday’s event has been a culmination of many years of Yvonne Frye and Future Career Academy working on making sure that we are connecting current employers that have a need for a workforce, with our seniors graduating out of Hillsborough County schools. It was super exciting, and great for students to recognize exactly what is out there, and what is being offered for them, as they move into the next stage.”
