At Lincoln Middle School, students learn about many career paths from local leaders

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Last week, on The Observer Live!, we discussed some aspects of how things are done at Kearny’s Lincoln Middle School. Yours truly had the privilege of judging the 2024 Optimist Club Oratorical competition, where I witnessed 12 great speeches delivered by 11 girls and one boy from the seventh and eighth grades.

And just one week before that, on April 10 to be exact, Lincoln Middle School hosted its first ever Career Day, an initiative brought back through the support of WIPRO and the volunteer efforts of LMS WIPRO colleagues and LMS teachers Patricia Hester-Fearon , Jacqueline Galella, Betty Rodriguez, Kim Serino and Jessica McMasters.

It all had the blessing of first-year Principal James Hempel, who some have called Lincoln Middle School “done.”

The event, organizers say, took months of planning and detailed coordination. The participation of many local professionals in this activity emphasizes how important the event was.

The day was celebrated with the participation of 24 professionals from various fields, including art, business, STEM, business, first responders and medical and veterinary sciences, as well as less traditional career paths.

“Our approach was to tailor the experience to our eighth graders’ future aspirations, which we measured through a survey conducted in the fall,” Erika Kliszus, director of digital education and communications at Lincoln Middle School, said. . “Students were grouped according to their areas of interest and had the opportunity to participate in three immersion sessions, allowing them to explore the field in depth.”

Local presenters include Julie Padinha Schirm, of Next Step Dance; Mark Wiggins, of Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home; Wanny Wong, owner of Intrinsic Bakery; Jack Pettigrew, Army Corps of Engineers and retired firefighter; Robert Zdichocki, electrician; Sgt. Adriano Marques, of the Kearny Police Department; and Deputy Chief Michael Hyde, of the Kearny Fire Department

“A unique community service clinic was given by our math teacher, David Smart, in landscape design/engineering, where students actively contributed to beautifying the school garden,” Kliszus said. “The day was enhanced by demonstrations and interactive sessions, including a memorable fencing experience, courtesy of the elite experts Guillermo Madrigal Sardinas and Yamina Salvat-Vives.”

Klizus says the event gave students a broad overview of possible career paths and enabled them to interact and learn from professionals.

“The enthusiasm and participation of students and presenters was inspiring, making this Career Day a testament to the power within our community to uplift and educate our youth,” Klizus said.

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