HERKIMER — Herkimer Central School District students in fourth and fifth grade recently heard from local professionals and older students from four different fields during Herkimer Elementary School’s Career Day.

Sara Lamanna, school counselor at Herkimer Elementary School, said it’s helpful for students to be exposed to career opportunities at a young age.

“When students make the connection between why students need to come to school and the actions students must take in the future to help them reach the possibility of achieving their aspirations, they will have a much better chance at success,” Lamanna said.

The Herkimer Elementary School Career Day was Nov. 16 during National Career Development Month. It was the first time this event was held and hopes are to make it an annual occurrence. 

The guest speakers were:

• Amanda Leskovar, ICON Laboratory Services director of project management.
• Ryan Grogan, a Herkimer Central School District graduate and environmental conservation officer in Oswego County for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
• Amanda Mroz, a veterinary technician at Herkimer Veterinary Associates.
• Kaylee Beam and Jenna Buttacaroli, Central Valley Academy students in the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Cosmetology program.

Jennifer Olds, Herkimer Elementary School library media specialist, also exposed students to a variety of jobs during their library class on Career Day. She put together a window display and showcased career books for students to check out.

Lamanna said she wanted to organize the Career Day because school counselors work to create a future world where all students thrive. Along with a school counselor’s duties of teaching kids to recognize and manage emotions, understand others, build healthy relationships and make good decisions, a school counselor also plays a critical role in students’ career development, she said.

“Career awareness and exploration provide opportunities for students to explore how their interests can relate to a career and learn about potential careers,” Lamanna said. “My motto is: ‘School is practice for life.’ School helps teach us essential skills that we all need to be successful in life and a career.”