Statesboro High School and local professionals will host an inaugural Career Night for SHS students on Thursday from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the school. 

Statesboro High has increased its career information and exploration efforts for students to better help them choose post-graduation paths, according to school officials. 

Increased collaboration with local professionals, "Lunch & Learn" events during school, a new online "YouScience" career aptitude tool, and apprenticeship and exploration events with local industry are just some of the tools the school has put in place to guide students and help ensure they are well informed and better prepared to make college and career decisions, said Hayley Greene, public relations and marketing specialist for Bulloch County Schools. 

At Career Night, students will have an opportunity to attend up to three career talks presented by experienced local professionals. More than 17 different career fields will be represented. Also, the school will provide a free pizza supper afterward.

In preparation for this first ever Career Night, this semester SHS launched a new online career assessment tool, YouScience, for all of its students. The school received a $2,950 Georgia Power Company Career Ready Grant from the Georgia Foundation for Public Education to help fund the innovative software tool and applicable career events. YouScience helps build communities by aligning talent with education and industry. Its talent discovery platform uncovers students' natural talents and aligns them with suggested best-fit, high-demand pathways and careers.

Approximately 90 percent of the school's ninth-grade students have completed the YouScience assessment, and many 10th through 12th-graders have as well. In order to help parents and students better understand their career aptitude results, the school hosted its first YouScience Night April 9. 

Knowing the careers for which their interests and skills are best suited can help students focus on learning more about the education and skills required for those careers, Greene said.  

Professionals from many of these potential careers are volunteering their time to meet with students Thursday: accounting; finance; marketing; veterinarian/vet tech; public safety personnel such as EMTs, firefighters and law enforcement; education; pharmacist/pharmacy tech; mental health services and counseling; physical therapy; welding; entrepreneur; fashion merchandising; and automotive repair.

Greene said local professionals who are interested in collaborating with Statesboro High School in any of their innovative career education effortsmay contact the school's guidance counseling office at (912) 212-8863 and speak with Tiffany Weathers, Brian Thomas, Krista Edwards, Rhetta Bland or LaQuanda Love.