Eighth-grade students from VanDevender Middle School took a big step toward planning their futures during a visit to West Virginia University at Parkersburg (WVUP) on March 28. The event, part of WVUP’s “What’s Your Thing?” Day, gave students a chance to explore different career paths based on their personal interests.
Organized by Olivia Reeder, vice president of Institutional Advancement at WVUP, “What’s Your Thing?” is a hands-on career exploration program that helps students connect their passions to potential college majors and careers. The day was packed with interactive experiences designed to inspire students and show them what’s possible.
“This event helps shape how students see their futures,” said Reeder. “Research shows that by the end of eighth grade, many students already imagine where they belong—even if they haven’t applied anywhere yet.”
To make the experience more personal, students were grouped into six career tracks:
- Fixing & Building Things – for students who enjoy hands-on work like welding and mechanics
- Everything Outdoors – focused on agriculture and environmental science
- Science & Technology – highlighting robotics, coding, and computer science
- Helping & Making Things Right – covering healthcare, education, and justice careers
- Business as Usual – for future entrepreneurs and business leaders
- Creating Things – aimed at those interested in design, media, and the arts
Each group took part in classroom demos, skill-based activities, and conversations with WVUP faculty.
In the Fixing & Building Things track, students donned welding gear and worked on 3-D metal projects at the Advanced Manufacturing Center. Student Kaden Haddox said the experience confirmed his dream of becoming a welder like his brother.
The Science & Technology group explored software coding and got hands-on in a server room. Mason Hemmingway, one of the students in this group, said, “We were coding and stripping wires—it was really cool. I definitely want to come back!”
Natalia Nesbitt, part of the Helping & Making Things Right track, discovered a new interest in nursing after touring the medical simulation labs. “I always thought I’d be a teacher, but now I want to be a nurse,” she shared.
Meanwhile, students in the Everything Outdoors track visited WVUP’s Riverhawk Farm. There, they learned about sustainability, greenhouse operations, and even met the farm’s first calf, Rosie. John Riggs, Director of Agriculture, emphasized how early exposure helps build a future generation of agriculture professionals.
Senta Goudy, Director of Civic Engagement at WVUP, said events like this are vital to building bridges between students and the college. “This helps them see that WVUP is not only accessible but also a place where they belong,” she said.
Dr. David Lancaster, Executive VP of Academic Affairs, shared a personal story about how early exposure changed the course of his daughter’s life—she now works as a nurse, thanks to a middle school outreach visit. As a first-generation college graduate, he stressed how important it is to meet students where they are.
WVUP President Torie Jackson added, “As a mom to an eighth grader, I know how important it is to have these conversations early. Many of us weren’t prepared for college, and we want to make sure today’s students are.”
“What’s Your Thing?” is part of a larger mission by WVUP to inspire students early and help them imagine successful futures. The program proves that when students are encouraged to explore their interests, they can turn those passions into meaningful careers.
For more information about “What’s Your Thing?”, contact Olivia Reeder at WVUP.
