For hundreds of high school seniors across Southeast Arkansas and the Delta, Tuesday’s Be Pro Be Proud Draft Day event offered more than a glimpse into the workforce. It opened doors to careers, training, and futures many are still discovering.
Held at the Pine Bluff Convention Center and hosted by Be Pro Be Proud Arkansas, the event connected students with employers, trade programs and state agencies eager to recruit and train the next generation of skilled workers.
Graduating seniors from 17 high schools attended either morning or afternoon sessions. Students from Drew Central, Pine Bluff, Watson Chapel and White Hall high schools took part in the afternoon session.
“I’m going to go to college and be a psychologist,” Crystal Walton of Warren High School said, while another student was uncertain. For many, that uncertainty is exactly what the event addressed.
“There are so many different options to choose from. And it’s like, if you can’t make up your mind, there are many, many, many options to inspire you,” said Anthony McCoy of Warren High School. “You just never know, it could be something you can find interesting while you’re here, and you might really want to do it as you leave.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1881.
The annual Draft Day brought together employers and training providers across industries. Students spoke directly with industry representatives and, in many cases, participated in on-site interviews.
Zair Hernandez of Warren High School said the event reinforced his interest in a skilled trade. “I’ve been interested in welding because my dad is a welder, so I know how it is,” he said. “Every time there is the Be Pro Be Proud program, there is something about welding, so I was like, oh, there’s gonna be an opportunity for me.”
Some students arrived prepared to take immediate steps toward employment.
“It’s given me a good example of what I can do after high school,” said Kaven Bryant of Stuttgart High. “Some people are interested in going to college, and that’s not for everyone. This is a good environment to find a trade school and teach you what you need to learn about trades. … I think it’s a very good learning experience all the way around.”
Bryant said he had already completed one interview.
“They told me that they really liked the things that I had to offer. I had a good resume and they told me that they would give me a call,” he said.
For others, the exposure alone was valuable.
“I think it was very helpful because I didn’t even know where to start,” said Ariel Ellis, who said she hopes to become “a lawyer for civil rights and discrimination.”
While Ellis remains certain about pursuing a career as a civil rights and discrimination lawyer, the Trades 4 Life booth provided her with a new practical skill: changing a flat tire. She was joined by several other student drivers who confessed they also lacked this essential knowledge.
“It’s so important for our youth to have these trade skills,” said Derian Coleman, executive director of Trades 4 Life. “Not only are there career paths, there are things that you need to know for yourself.”
Students interested in trades said the event helps clarify options.
“I feel like Be Pro Be Proud can really help you figure out what you want to do, because it lays out your experience like all different types of work,” said Beckham Ramirez of Warren High.
Organizers say that exploration is the goal.
“It is an opportunity for graduating high school seniors … to sit across the table from area companies who are looking for those interested in a technical profession,” said Andrew Parker, executive director of Be Pro Be Proud Arkansas. “That’s what all of this is about.”
Parker emphasized the program is not an alternative to education but a pathway into it.
“A lot of the companies that are here are going to be talking to students about investments they’ll make in those individuals at post-secondary education institutions,” he said.
He added that many students benefit simply from exposure.
“We don’t know what we want to do when we’re 18. This is an opportunity to identify what is that thing that I like to do,” said Parker.
State and regional leaders say collaboration is key to building a workforce pipeline.
“From a state perspective, it’s meeting people where they are and helping them determine their next steps,” said Nancy Lee McNew, vice president of the Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County.
Mike Rogers, chief workforce officer with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office, said the event helps students connect education with employment.
“You’re bringing in career awareness for residents to know what careers are out there, what opportunities exist locally and regionally,” he said.
Rogers described modern workforce development as flexible.
“It’s more like a zipper. I’ve got a job and experience, and I’m getting education and training,” he said.
By the end of the day, more than 100 students had registered for interviews. For students standing on the edge of graduation, the event offered something simple but powerful — direction.
“You can get inspired,” McCoy said. That sentiment repeated across the convention floor as seniors took their first steps toward life after high school.
