Andes Central students job shadow at Mitchell businesses

LAKE ANDES -- Students from Andes Central High School in Lake Andes came to Mitchell on Thursday with the future on their minds.

The students, 54 in all, spread out after they arrived as they took the opportunity to job shadow at one of 14 businesses and organizations in the city. Donna Veurink, the school's counselor, told The Daily Republic she hopes the job shadowing helps the students decide which careers they want to pursue -- or, which careers they might want to avoid.

"There is such a wide range of careers out there," Veurink said. "None of that really occurs to them until they have an opportunity like this."

The students, which included freshmen, sophomores and juniors, did their job shadowing at places that matched their career interests, which they measured with the help of South Dakota MyLife, an online career planning program for students in the state.

Jacki Miskimins, regional workforce coordinator for the Mitchell Area Development Corporation, helped facilitate the different job shadowing opportunities given to the students by contacting local businesses or organizations. It was encouraging, Miskimins said, that so many places were willing to participate.

"Everyone here in Mitchell is very proud of what we do," she said. "It's really cool that local people get to show that and share that with these students."

Veurink was also pleased by the welcome the students received from the businesses and other organizations in Mitchell.

"That is one of the most impressive things in my mind, the way the Mitchell businesses just opened their doors."

The job shadowing ties to work the students have done in class, Veurink said, and contributes to a larger project required of the students before they graduate.

"A lot of our students are probably interested in staying pretty close to home," Veurink said. "I hope they observe careers they could pursue in their small towns."

Miskimins said she hoped the students come away from the experience with a better idea of the career they want to pursue.

"I also hope that their eyes are opened to all of the opportunities here in Mitchell," she said.

1/3: Dr. Cati Beaty D.V.M., with Lakeview Veterinary Clinic, shows a maggot that was in the stomach of an animal to Andes Central junior Mikayla Petsche, freshman Jasiah Caple and freshman Lily McDermaid on Friday as part of a job shadow program organized by the Mitchell Area Development Cooperation. (Matt Gade/Republic)

2/3: Andes Central freshman Jasiah Caple looks through the microscope on Friday at Lakeview Veterinary Clinic in Mitchell as part of a job shadow program helped organized by the Mitchell Area Development Cooperation. (Matt Gade/Republic)

3/3: Dr. Cati Beaty D.V.M., with Lakeview Veterinary Clinic, holds the stethoscope to Luna, a husky, as Andes Central freshman Jasiah Caple, listens to Luna's lungs while junior Mikayla Petsche and freshman Lily McDermaid watch as part of a job shadow program on Friday, organized by the Mitchell Area Development Cooperation. (Matt Gade/Republic)