Staff report

Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil may not have seen his shadow on Friday, but various employees around our community saw their shadows by participating as mentors in Groundhog Job Shadow Day.  
The Liberty County School System and numerous businesses across the area partnered to provide job shadow opportunities for more than 50 high school students in their career field of interest.
Bradwell Institute and Liberty County High juniors and seniors made application to participate in this year’s activity. Through coordinated efforts of Liberty County High counselor Judy Sapp and Bradwell Institute teachers Connie Bragg, Lauren Drury and Pamela Woodard, workplace mentors were recruited to match to students’ specific career interest.  
As part of the national initiative sponsored through Junior Achievement, the Coastal Empire Tech Prep Consortium, and national title sponsor ING, students were provided an opportunity to “shadow” a workplace mentor as a school-sponsored activity.  
Although the campaign kicks off on Groundhog Day, it is part of a year-long initiative to provide a work-based learning activity and networking opportunity for high school students.
“Across the country, job shadowing has proven to be an effective way to motivate students by showing them how academics are applied to the workplace,” Elise C. Stafford, chief long-term care officer at Coastal Manor, said. “It is a great way for us to introduce students to a variety of careers in the healthcare field.”
“We are delighted to be a part of this initiative,” Steve Wilmoth, superintendent of Liberty County Schools. “We hope that the alliances formed with local businesses will open doors to some wonderful opportunities for our students.”
To find out more about job shadowing opportunities or to become involved, contact Sonja Duncan, Liberty County Schools, at 876-4957 or at sduncan@liberty.k12.ga.us.

Participants

Business sponsors
Coastal Courier
Beatie Animal Clinic
Hinesville Police Department
Dr. Glenn Carter
Liberty County BOE Finance
Coastal Manor
Whitman Pharmacy
Dr. Leon Wills
Coastal Manor
Frank Long Elementary
United Way
Flemington Veterinary Hospital
WGML Broadcast
Stepping Stones @ Savannah Technical College
Canoochee EMC
It’s Fashion
SouthEast Collision Center
Savannah Technical College
WTOC-TV
ERA Kelly & Fischer
Lewis Frasier Middle School
LBS Entertainment
Exit Team Realty
Liberty County Pre-K Center
Beatie Animal Clinic
Wal-Mart

Participating students
Cameron Smith
Elizabeth Dill
Shanelle Gordon
Susan Pomarnke
Cierra Akana-Paaluhi
Elizabeth Amis
Amy Baker
Jaleesa Barbary
Kelsey Beaty
Brooke Biler
Shayna Brown
Kezia Bullock
Sarah Carrier
Jeremy Fermin
James Fleming
Brandi Foster
Sarah Franco
Amy Gaither
Christopher Grant
Gabriel Greasham
LaShay Hewitt
Tacora Jackson
Angeleigh James
Chu Kim
T’Aaron Merchant
Byron Miller
Kelya Miller
Andrew Petersen
Danielle Ripley
Mary Robbins
Deborah Rodriguez-Garcia
Jubal Rogers
Melissa Rosas
Jasmine Scott
Keon Steele
Briana Stutts
Charlie Tunnage
Casey Watts
Chary Williams
Justin Williams
Skye Wood
Rebecca Woods
Violetta Ybarra
Ryan Caronongan