Atlantic Cape Community College’s Cape May County campus hosted nearly 100 seventh and eighth grade students from Middle and Dennis township middle schools on Oct. 11 for Middle School Career Exploration Day, where the students heard from experts around the county about ways to make a career on the Cape.
During their opening remarks, Tim Cwik, Atlantic Cape’s aviation operations assistant professor and chair, and Marian Woodson, career services and experienced-based learning manager, urged the students to “learn about different possibilities,” “ask questions,” “think of your interests,” “[do] what you enjoy,” “[learn] what motivates you” and strive to “love what you do, do what you love.”
Atlantic Cape professors from many academic backgrounds, along with staff members from the Cape May County Park & Zoo, held four 30-minute workshops that gave students a glimpse into the day-to-day experiences that each profession entails.
Science Laboratories Director Terri-Lynn Hamby took her groups on a nature walk along the paved trail that meanders through the woods behind the campus. They examined local plant life, explored the nearby ponds in search of aquatic wildlife, and came close to several baby tree frogs, who inhabit the ponds and enjoy resting on lily pads and leaves.
Chris Carbone, assistant professor of biology, introduced the fascinating world of the tiny organisms that live in ponds by having students view test samples of pond water under microscopes. Carbone also quizzed the students on what types of pollution they feel might pose a danger to fragile aquatic ecosystems.
Lawrencia Nnadi, nursing simulation and skills lab assistant director, conducted a simulation lab session where she introduced students to the technique of taking a patient’s blood pressure and pulse, measuring breathing and heart rate, and taking temperature with modern equipment.
Professor Bojan Zilovic introduced the world of cryptography through the utilization of the ancient Caesar cipher, which was developed more than 2,000 years ago by Julius Caesar as a way to send coded messages to his troops, and a Mexican Army cipher. The students in this session learned to use these ciphers and create/break coded messages.
For students interested in the dynamics of manned and unmanned air travel, assistant professor Anthony Esposito demonstrated the capabilities of unmanned drone flight and the new careers that are being created. Cwik, meanwhile, dug deep into the aerodynamics of aircraft by making paper airplanes and focusing on the four key aspects required for flight: lift, weight, thrust and drag.
Annmarie Chelius, Academy of Culinary Arts chef educator, and two of her culinary students showed students how to decorate Halloween cookies. Associate professor Karl Giulian conducted a workshop on the fundamentals of the business world, including becoming an entrepreneur and working in marketing, finance or management.
Professor Melissa Palmer guided students through the dynamic of choosing the correct words to express themselves and develop intriguing storytelling. Hospitality assistant professor Jeanine DiNardo discussed the various careers that are available to everyone in the field of hospitality, from event planning and catering to tourism, restaurants and hotels.
Members of the Cape May County Park & Zoo’s educational wing spoke about the many job opportunities that are available in the care of the animals, from zookeepers and veterinarians to wildlife educators and conservationists. They introduced the students to one of the zoo’s armadillos and indigenous snake species.
