Lakeville students gathered at the Stepping into your Future event. Photos: ISD194
Eighth graders are given the opportunity to explore future careers.
On January 14, students from Lakeville’s three public and two private schools gathered at the Airlake Airport for a different type of field trip. The annual Stepping into your Future event offers students hands-on learning experiences that mirror offerings through clubs and elective courses at Lakeville area high schools. “The idea is to give [students] some opportunities to think about ‘pathways’ they want to pursue in high school,” Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce president Krista Jech says. Activities at this second annual event are wide-ranging, from producing a newscast with Game Time Media to creating and marketing a cereal with Post Consumer Brands. We asked Jech to share more details about this Lakeville Works-affiliated event.
Eighth graders are given the opportunity to learn how to produce a newscast.
What inspired the Stepping into your Future event?
Stepping into Your Future started at Kenwood Trail Middle School (KTMS) as a partnership between the Lakeville South Capstone program and the Chamber’s Lakeville Works program. Lakeville Works and the STEM programs at our schools have worked in partnership for years and are always looking for ways to provide career exposure and experiences to our Lakeville students. It was held at KTMS on a small scale for two years before expanding to include all Lakeville eighth grade classes in 2025.
Lakeville students learn about creating and marketing a cereal.
What kind of outcomes have you noticed from the event?
We hear from students in higher grades, who have volunteered as small group leaders, that they wish they would have had this in eighth grade.
Tell us more about the goals of Lakeville Works and its involvement in Lakeville Area Schools.
Lakeville Works exists to create awareness of in-demand careers in the Lakeville area by bringing together the local business community, schools and the city. It helps highlight real career paths available right here in the community so students and residents can make informed decisions about education and work.
The five members of the South Capstone team planned and executed the Stepping into your Future event.
Lakeville Works
Facebook: Lakeville Works
