McAuliffe pupils sample career opportunities
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

JACKSON - It is never too early to begin exploring the future, and that is exactly what 800 seventh- and eighth-grade students at the McAuliffe Middle School did during the morning of April 26.

"The career fair is an excellent opportunity for students to receive information firsthand," said guidance counselor Eve Caruso, who organized the event. "It is one of the activities we offer as part of our career education program."

Caruso said there were 37 presenters on hand from businesses, medical centers and professional schools.

"The career fair is the final step during the year," she said. "The kids go through an inventory first to see what areas they may be interested in as far as a career or profession for themselves. We culminate the activities by inviting the various professions to come in and allow the kids to go around and ask questions related to their career, their educational background and the outlook for jobs. This is a great way to motivate kids and get them to start realizing they are not too young to start thinking about their future."

PHOTOS BY DAVE BENJAMIN Pupils at the McAuliffe Middle School, Jackson, were recently treated to a job fair that gave them a chance to contemplate their future careers. Top photo, Jackson Police Officer John Pejoski discusses opportunities in law enforcement with students. Bottom right, aviation instructor Mark Lamb watches as a student works on a set of airplane bolts. At left, the firefighting area proved to be a popular stop for the pupils.

Principal Kevin DiEugenio said, "I think today's career fair will make a lasting impression. Students at the middle school level have a great interest in the career fair. There are more than 35 presenters to give the students a wide range of insight. There are civil service workers and community based employees. I think it's a great experience for the students."

During the event, students had a chance to choose at least three professions of interest and learn directly from the presenters about a job, the qualifications required and what the work entails.

Daniel Korba, a representative of Free-man Funeral Home, Freehold, explained his profession to the students, as did Gary Thompson, who owns an Edible Arrange-ments franchise in Jackson.

"There are 700 Edible Arrangements stores throughout the country and overseas," Thompson said. "We just opened in February at Jackson Crossings on South Hope Chapel Road. We make specialty fruit baskets and boxes of strawberries, apples and everything that has to do with fruit. It's the kind of business that makes people happy."

"I'm trying to introduce the children to a career in marketing and public relations," said Shari Beirne, director of marketing with Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center, a psychiatric facility in Toms River that is affiliated with Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. "I go out and build relationships with physicians, nursing homes and community agencies and I make them aware of our services."

Cindy Rosmos, assistant manager at Wawa, Bennetts Mills Road, was on hand as well.

"I'm here to promote our company," Rosmos said. "It's a great company to work for. There are a lot of good things it does, a lot of charity events. I've been with the company for only two years and I'm going for a manager in training. There are a lot of opportunities for people and there are college programs that are available also."

John Burnside, who has been in the digital equipment and computer business for 30 years, said he has worked for Hewlett-Packard for the past five years. He does computer repairs and was on hand to talk with students who may be interested in pursuing that type of work.

Representatives of the Jackson Police Department, Jackson Fire Department and Ocean County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit explained the demands and rewards or their job.

Jackson Police Officer John Pejoski said he is assigned to the middle school as a school resource officer.

"I tell the kids that there are all kinds of jobs in the police department, including street cops and detectives," he said. "There are all kinds of departments and divisions that are associated with law enforcement. Being in the school is one of them."

Michael Grossman of Jackson Fire District No. 3 was at the McAuliffe School to tell the students about a career in the fire service, what equipment firefighters use to keep themselves safe and how to get the job done the right way.

Ed Mace, an emergency medical technician from Howell First Aid and Rescue, said the best part of his job is saving people's lives.

Ocean County Sheriff's Officer Theodore Wielichoski explained how his dog, Officer Nitro, can detect bombs and explosive devices. He said Nitro came to the United States from Slovakia and was trained by the New Jersey State Police.

Implementing health education programs is the job of John Clayton, of Toms River, who works throughout the community and in the schools.

"We have openings in the health department now," said Clayton, who said he visits middle schools, high schools and colleges and speaks with students who are interested in health-related fields.

Albert Luster, a supervisor for NJR Home Services, explained that his company services gas appliances, furnaces and water heaters, and installs heating and cooling equipment. Luster said he lets the students know there is money to be made in this business.

"They can learn a good trade and earn a decent living," said Luster. "We're good at what we do."

Dental assistant Alexis Desalvo, who works at Jackson Dental Professionals, Bennetts Mills Road, said she just graduated from college and is going to school to be a dentist.

"The dental field is great," said Desalvo, who distributed literature describing a variety of opportunities in dentistry. She also noted that some dentists can make more than $100,000 a year.

Gloria Rodcielowicz, an education consultant with the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, said, "We educate [students] about blindness and we try to seek new entries into the agency. It's a wonderful career path to take."

Other representatives at the career fair included Weichert Financial Services, Freehold; Street Outreach Counselor Conway Johnson, Ocean Harbor House, Toms River; and aviation instructor Mark Lamb, Ocean County Vocational School.

Seventh-grader Jonathan Pangborn said he was interested in learning about the firefighter and dentistry jobs, while seventh-grader Michael Kiniry said he likes to work with his hands.

Both agreed that there are a lot of rewarding jobs to be considered.

McAuliffe School teacher Jason Lynch said, "I think this is phenomenal for the kids. They get to experience different careers and it really gives them ideas."

Lynch said youngsters today have to start thinking about what they are going to do in the future and not necessarily wait until high school.

"They need to get a better understanding," he said.