Midview High School’s SkillsUSA chapter hosted a student-led Lunch & Learn Networking event on February 11, bringing together more than 60 students from all eight career pathways and over 50 industry partners, community leaders, and local officials. The event, made possible by a $4,000 grant from Achieve Credit Union through its Community Impact Program, provided students with the opportunity to network with professionals working in fields they hope to join.
Director of Career Technical Education (CTE) Deanna Hersko highlighted the significance of hosting the event during Career & Technical Education Month, noting, “This is the first time we’ve gathered students from across all of our career pathways for a networking opportunity of this magnitude. That’s something worth celebrating. When students, educators, and industry partners share space like this, real connections are made—the kind that spark ideas, open doors, and help shape futures.”
The event was the result of thoughtful planning by the SkillsUSA Executive Committee. Following their success at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta last year, where the chapter earned sixth place in the nation in the Video News Production competition, the team returned inspired to expand the chapter’s impact. They identified two key goals: increasing awareness of SkillsUSA and CTE across the community, and helping students fully understand the benefits of career-tech education and the opportunities SkillsUSA provides.
As Chapter Reporter Jasmine Buckingham shared during the event, “We wanted to reach beyond our chapter and help CTE students at Midview by offering knowledge, advice, guidance, and mentorship.”
With that goal in mind, the Lunch & Learn took shape. Members of SkillsUSA thoughtfully designed and led every aspect of the event, overseeing everything from guest check-in and seating to student-led remarks and overall coordination. At its core, the event centered on meaningful engagement between students and industry professionals, combining networking over a lunch catered by Fligner’s with industry-specific breakout sessions. During these sessions, students participated in mock interviews and received personalized resume feedback.
Throughout the program, speakers emphasized the power of community partnership. Addressing the many alumni and local professionals in attendance, Midview High School Principal Chad Heuser remarked, “Some of you have a Middie 'M' and your graduation year on your name badge. You once walked these halls and chose to come back to invest in the next generation. We’re grateful you’re here to inspire what comes next. And to those of you who didn’t start at Midview but still chose to pour your time and expertise into our students—thank you. Your willingness to show up and give back makes a real difference.”
In a post-event survey, students shared that they gained confidence, greater clarity about their career goals, and insights that will guide them in the years ahead.
Closing the program, Executive Committee Member Nathan Storrow reflected on the shared impact of the afternoon: “If there’s one thing that we hope, it’s that you’ve taken something away from today. Students–we hope that you have learned something that will help guide you in your career choices, make you a more competitive employee candidate, or just a more well-rounded individual. Industry experts and stakeholders–we hope you’ve learned too; whether you created new connections, laughed over shared stories, or found a new or restored fondness for Midview High School. We know that true professional development never ends, so we hope you have gotten as much out of today as we have. We cannot thank you enough.”
SkillsUSA is a national organization that partners students, educators, and industry leaders to develop a skilled workforce through personal, technical, and workplace skill development. Midview High School’s chapter, founded in 2023, has grown to 39 members and provides students with leadership opportunities, competitive experiences, and pathways to successful careers.
If you or your organization is interested in supporting career-based initiatives or learning at Midview Local Schools, please contact Deanna Hersko at dhersko@midviewk12.org.