NASHVILLE, TN — The chairman and CEO of Nashville-based Shoney’s Corporation, David Davoudpour, recently joined Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Director Dr. Jesse Register and Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ralph Schulz at the Nashville’s Music City Center hosting more than 7,400 high school freshmen for the 2014 “My Future, My Way” career fair in October, 2014.
The fair was launched in 2009 through a joint partnership by MNPS and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce as part of the Academies of Nashville initiative in Metro’s 12 zoned high schools. Funding from Shoney’s to support “My Future, My Way” allowed the event to be held at Music City Center to accommodate growing interest.
This year, 20 public and charter schools committed to participate in the event, helping their students learn about career opportunities from more than 200 area business representatives. “I’m happy to continue our participation for the fourth consecutive year in the ‘My Future, My Way’ Career Exploration Fair,” said Davoudpour. “This event exposes high school freshmen to real career paths available in Middle Tennessee and motivates them to see the possibilities about their future goals, both in school and beyond. This also helps them to set their goals towards a positive and sustainable path.”
Attending the event isn’t the only the opportunity students will have to discuss their career goals. Prior to “My Future, My Way,” students conducted career research at their respective schools and explored options for enrolling in specific career academies in the 10th grade.
Following the career fair, students participated in an essay contest about the lessons they learned at the fair and engage in other classroom-based follow-up activities. “‘My Future, My Way’ is a great chance for students to talk to a professional in the field that interests them,” said Register. “It helps them understand that committing themselves to achieving in school and putting in the effort now can lead to a great career or higher education in the future.”
At the October meeting of the Metro School Board, two essay contest winners from the 2013 “My Future, My Way” career fair appeared before the board to talk about their experiences at the event and how it informed their school choices. Organizers also expressed their thanks for the hundreds of community and business volunteers who help make the event a positive experience for young people. “Volunteers from companies, nonprofits and universities come together to help educate young people about their career paths,” said Schulz. “Their contributions are invaluable to the success of this event and the growth of the local economy in the years ahead.”
Featured Image Caption: l-r, Tennessee Tribune Publisher, Rosetta Miller Perry, Shoney’s CEO David Davoudpour and Juvenile Court Judge, The Hon. Sheila Calloway