Camden Fairview students received virtual experience Friday in a wide variety of technical fields.
Be Pro Be Proud is a workforce development initiative led by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas (AIA) that connects students around the state to high-tech, high-paying careers via “experience” granted by the AR and VR program.
A 78-foot double expandable Be Pro Be Proud trailer features twelve interactive stations involving virtual and augmented reality that put students in the role of the prospective occupations. Camden Fairview students “drove” big rigs, “fixed” power lines and assumed the role of a train engineer.
A press release from the organization states, “High schools play a crucial role in connecting students to education and industry, and Be Pro Be Proud is excited to partner with Camden Fairview in this movement. Be Pro Be Proud believes that working to replenish the declining workforce in manufacturing, utility, transportation, and construction industries will enhance the economic prosperity and opportunity in Arkansas.”
Jordan McCoy, a Camden Fairview student, tried his hand at a number of the simulations.
“I learned that I can’t weld. I scored a 51,” McCoy said. “Practice makes perfect. That is what I have learned here today.”
Patricia Burks, Career coach for Camden Fairview said, “Be Pro Be Proud has been an initiative that we have had here on campus probably about the last six to seven years. It’s an initiative that introduces students to career and technical education programs that they can go into immediately after high school.
“It’s an option for them to see other trades that they can be introduced to that they can do. Once they graduate, they may not want to go to college because all of our kids don’t want to go to a four-year college. Some of them don’t want to go to a two-year college. They want to go to work immediately after. So it introduces them to that.”
Tour Manager for Be Pro Be Proud, Karen Kloss stated, “It’s a nonprofit organization. So we have sponsors that put us out here on the road, so that we can get the word out about the skills gap that we’re having, because all these people are retiring from these careers and there’s no one to fill them.”
Originally appeared February 8, 2025 on https://www.camdenarknews.com/news/2025/feb/08/technical-simulations-introduce-camden-fairview/
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