Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow...and so do area business professionals

There were 56 students from the North Central Iowa Career Academy in Eagle Grove who got the chance, not to see their shadow, but be a shadow this past Groundhog’s Day, celebrated Friday, Feb. 2.

Yes, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter, but nearly 50 area businesses in Eagle Grove and surrounding areas also saw their shadows...not outside, but inside their businesses.

Colleen Bartlett, Career Academy Specialist, was thrilled that so many businesses were willing to participate. This Job Shadow Day gave high school juniors and seniors attending the Academy the opportunity to spend a morning following someone in a career that they are interested in perhaps pursuing in the future themselves.

“We had a wide array of careers represented, spread out through our region, said Bartlett. “A job shadow has several benefits for the student as well as the business. A student can explore a career and talk to a professional to find out what education is needed, the future for the job and the skills needed. Students often do not know what they want to do after high school. Job shadows are a way to explore what jobs are in our region and what the expectations are for the job.”

Read the full story in the February 8 edition.