April 16, 2026, Seward Folly

By: Regan Seibert SHS

Seward High School held its 4th annual Career Day, and this year’s event was one of the most successful yet. With 37 businesses and agencies and around 55 professionals attending, students had the chance to explore a wide range of careers and connect with people from their own community. The variety of booths and conversations made it easy for students to walk around, ask questions, and get a feel for different paths they might not have considered before.

NHS president Makena DesErmia shared that the event “went super well,” noting that even small additions, like having a musical performance, helped draw more students in and get them interested. Compared to past years, it felt bigger, more engaging, and more interactive overall. The added energy made the event feel less like a requirement and more like something students actually wanted to be a part of.

That energy carried into the conversations happening throughout the day. Heather Shank, who works for Anderson Tug and Barge, noticed that students weren’t just listening; they were actively participating. She explained that many students were asking follow-up questions and connecting what they were learning to things they already knew or had seen before, which made the experience more meaningful.

Career Day is designed to do more than just introduce jobs. It’s about building connections. As Jennifer Ransom (coordinator) explained, “Career day is a positive, community-bonding approach to connecting Seward’s diverse professional population with our youth who are beginning to explore what careers are available to them.”

The event helps bring Seward’s professional community and local students together in a way that benefits both. It gives students insight into possible career paths while also strengthening the relationship between Seward schools and the community.

Students themselves had a lot to say about the experience. Sophomore Kirra DesErmia shared that being exposed to different careers is helpful for guiding her to what she would like to do in the future. For younger students, like freshman Elsie Conant, the day was memorable because she got to see her mom at work and learn more about what she does while enjoying some of the prizes handed out. Experiences like that at Career Day provided a more personal feel while still keeping it exciting.

For many of the professionals, Career Day is just as important. Tyler Mallory from the Seward Fire Department said they love participating because it allows them to introduce students to a career that “makes a big difference in people’s lives.” He also pointed out that it’s a path that doesn’t always require a degree, just hard work and willingness to learn, and that students can even start getting involved now through programs like Exploring. Being able to talk directly with students helps break down misconceptions and show what the job is really like.

Cole Petersen, a Seward alum who now owns Metco, spoke about the long-term impact of events like this, emphasizing that giving his time back to students in his hometown is always worth it. Petersen returns yearly to show his support for the Seward High School students. He noted that this event plays an important role in helping kids see the range of opportunities available to them and start thinking about what their futures could look like beyond high school.

Overall, the day gave students a clearer idea of what their futures might look like and helped them see some of the different paths they could take. It also reminded them that they’ve got a strong community behind them, supporting them as they start to figure things out.