LUMBERTON — The sound of drilling, voices and industry filled the air Wednesday at the Southeastern Agricultural Center as middle school students explored an interactive Career Center Expo Event designed to engage them and pique their interests in future career paths.

The event was to be held Wednesday and Thursday and welcome close to 1,800 eighth-graders, according to Herman Locklear, director of the Career and Technical Education Program at the Public Schools of Robeson County. The program is housed in the Robeson County Career Center.

Several booths were set up to showcase CTE programs and career pathways including automotive, electrical trades, welding, emergency medical technology, and more.

Locklear said he wanted the event to “spark a passion” inside of students and “help them realize it can become a career.”

“I wish I had an opportunity like this [as an eighth-grader] and I hope they take advantage of this,” Locklear said.

Career and Technical Education students Aaron Deal and Jake Buffkin could be seen at the automotive booth leading races between students to see who could loosen bolts from an engine block the fastest.

“I went through this program,” said Mason Bussard, a former CTE student.

Bussard came back to assist with the Career Center Expo to support the automotive program and speak to students who are interested in the field.

Bussard told The Robesonian he took automotive courses and a welding course at the Career Center before entering Caterpillar’s ThinkBig Program through Florence Darlington Technical College in Florence, South Carolina.

“I work for CAT now,” he said.

“The Career Center really helped me develop a career path,” Bussard added.

Emily Vazquez could be seen in the electrical trades booth observing wires and speaking with Matt Locklear, a CTE Electrical Trades instructor.

The eighth-grade Littlefield Middle School student told The Robesonian she was interested in electrical trades.

Matt Locklear said he wanted students to take with them from the event “the appreciation for the building trades and a desire to learn more about them.”

There is a need for more workers in electrical trades, he said.

Matt Locklear said students should “come out and give us a try.”

“This can be a great career,” he said.

Kaitlyn Reedy told The Robesonian she learned about Virtual Reality and drafting. The CTE program offers career pathways for drafting in architecture and engineering.

The eighth-grade Littlefield student could be seen working with John Burssard, a ninth-grade Purnell Swett High student, on a drafting project.

Behind the two at the booth were multiple 3D printers and several shapes and items which had been made.

Wyatt Sencenbaugh, an EMT student, could be seen Wednesday at the EMT booth with other students who taught attendees about CPR and how to check someone’s blood pressure.

Sencenbaugh said he wants to be an EMT because it is “a thrill.”

“Hopefully, this encourages some of ‘em to become EMTs,” Sencenbaugh said.

“We fully train our kids to be successful,” said Jody Bullard, an EMT instructor in the CTE program.

Pharmacy Technician Instructor Kelsey Hammond mixed orange juice and pineapple juice “to mimic nonsterile compounding.”

“We’re making components,” she said.

Doing so allows Pharmacy Technicians to make medicines like topical creams, she said.

Students could also learn facts about the profession and participate in a trivia game.

Salvador Bravo, a St. Pauls High School senior, aspires to be an animator. Bravo was participating in design elements at the Adobe software booth.

PSRC has “so many opportunities for students” seeking a two-year educational program or to join the workforce out of high school, said Robert Locklear, assistant superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability.

“That’s why today is so important,” he said.

Events like the Career Center Expo allow students to choose a career path while they are still in middle school, he added.

For more information about the Career and Technical Education Program, visit https://www.robeson.k12.nc.us/page/career-technical-education, call 910-671-6000 or email herman.locklear@robeson.k12.nc.us.