BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P3D
REFRESH-INTERVAL:P3D
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART:20260318T133000Z
DTEND:20260318T190500Z
X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:FALSE
SUMMARY:2026 CTE Expo
DESCRIPTION:Participating in the CTE Expo means more than showing up. It means shaping futures. \n\n\n\n When your business takes part\, you're helping students connect what they're learning today with the opportunities of tomorrow. You're also strengthening partnerships with our local schools and investing in the future talent pipeline that drives our regional economy.\n\n\n\nAbout CTE in Bedford County Public Schools\n\nCareer and technical education (CTE) provides students with the academic\, technical\, and real-world knowledge\, skills\, and experience they need to be prepared for a variety of career options. CTE programs are personalized\, hands-on\, and let students explore different career fields\, such as manufacturing\, human services\, information technology\, and more. In addition to the 15 pathways offered at Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center\, Bedford County Public Schools boasts over 60 CTE courses\, with each high school offering a variety of "career clusters." Learn more about CTE in Bedford County Public Schools.\n\n\n\nAbout the CTE Expo\n\nFounded in 2017\, the CTE Expo is a collaboration between the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) and Bedford County Public Schools (BCPS). The 2026 event is proudly presented by the Bedford County Office of Economic Development.\n\n\n\nOn Wednesday\, March 18\, 2026\, all 8th-grade students in Bedford County will visit Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center (SGSTC) for this immersive\, hands-on career exploration experience.\n\n\n\nThe CTE Expo aims to:\n\n\n	Introduce students to the CTE courses\, programs\, and pathways available in high school and at SGSTC.\n	Help 8th graders make thoughtful decisions as they select their 9th-grade course schedules.\n	Expose students to a broad range of local\, skills-based careers.\n	Strengthen connections among businesses\, educators\, and the future workforce.\n\n\nAfter the Expo\, participating businesses are invited to tour classrooms\, meet instructors\, and speak with current CTE students.\n\n\n\nHow does the CTE Expo work?\n\nStations are organized by career cluster\, meaning businesses will be grouped with teachers and peers in related industries (ex. HVAC professionals with HVAC teacher/students in electrical workshop and classroom\, etc).  Many businesses will collaborate with a CTE teacher or standout student to create a 5 10-minute hands-on activity for small groups (~10 students). Small groups of 8th graders will rotate through stations on a pre-determined schedule.\n\n\n\nIf your business does not align with a CTE program: Prepare a hands-on activity or display to engage students and demonstrate your field.\n\n\n\nWhat CTE courses are offered in Bedford County Public Schools?\n\nClick here to take a look!\n\n \n My business wants to participate. How do we sign-up?\n\nWe're so glad you want to get involved! Please contact Foster Garrett\, Dir. of Marketing & Events for the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce\, regarding your interest in participating\, sponsoring\, and/or volunteering at the CTE Expo. She can be reached at marketing@baccva.org or (540) 586-9401. \n\n\n\nI need more information before I'm able to commit. Who should I speak with?\n\nFoster can answer any questions you may have\, but we also encourage you to attend our virtual information session on January 15 at 1:00PM. Learn more and RSVP.
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38\;margin-top:0pt\;margin-bottom:0pt\;"><br />\n<span style="font-family:arial\;"><span style="font-size:36px\;"><strong>Participating in the CTE Expo means more than showing up. It means shaping futures.&nbsp\;</strong></span><br />\n<br />\n<span style="color:#000000\;">&#8203\;When your business takes part\, you&#39\;re helping students connect what they&#39\;re learning today with the opportunities of tomorrow. You&#39\;re also strengthening partnerships with our local schools and investing in the future talent pipeline that drives our regional economy.</span><br />\n<br />\n<span style="font-size:18px\;"><strong>About CTE in Bedford County Public Schools</strong></span><br />\n<span style="color:#000000\;">Career and technical education (CTE)&nbsp\;provides students with the academic\, technical\, and real-world knowledge\, skills\, and experience they need to be prepared for a variety of career options. CTE programs are personalized\, hands-on\, and let students explore different career fields\, such as manufacturing\, human services\, information technology\, and more. In addition to the 15 pathways offered at Susie G. Gibson Science &amp\; Technology Center\, Bedford County Public Schools boasts over 60 CTE courses\, with each high school offering a variety of &quot\;career clusters.&quot\; </span><a href="https://bedford.sharpschool.net/academics/curriculum_instruction/cte#:~:text=Bedford%20County%20Public%20Schools%20Career%20and%20Technical%20Education\,wide%20range%20of%20high-wage%2C%20high-skill%2C%20high-demand%20career%20pathways.">Learn more about CTE in Bedford County Public Schools.</a><br />\n<br />\n<strong><span style="font-size:18px\;">About the CTE Expo</span></strong><br />\n<span style="color:#000000\;">Founded in 2017\, the CTE Expo is a collaboration between the </span><a href="https://www.bedfordareachamber.com/">Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC)</a> and <a href="https://bedford.sharpschool.net/academics/curriculum_instruction/cte">Bedford County Public Schools (BCPS)</a><span style="color:#000000\;">. The 2026 event is proudly presented by the </span><a href="https://bedfordeconomicdevelopment.com/">Bedford County Office of Economic Development</a><span style="color:#000000\;">.<br />\n<br />\nOn <strong>Wednesday\, March 18\, 2026</strong>\, all 8th-grade students in Bedford County will visit </span><a href="https://bedfordsusieggibsonstc.sharpschool.net/">Susie G. Gibson Science &amp\; Technology Center (SGSTC)</a><span style="color:#000000\;"> for this immersive\, hands-on career exploration experience.<br />\n<br />\nThe CTE Expo aims to:</span></span></p>\n\n<ul dir="ltr">\n	<li style="line-height: 1.38\; margin-top: 0pt\; margin-bottom: 0pt\;"><span style="color:#000000\;"><span style="font-family:arial\;">Introduce students to the CTE courses\, programs\, and pathways available in high school and at SGSTC.</span></span></li>\n	<li style="line-height: 1.38\; margin-top: 0pt\; margin-bottom: 0pt\;"><span style="color:#000000\;"><span style="font-family:arial\;">Help 8th graders make thoughtful decisions as they select their 9th-grade course schedules.</span></span></li>\n	<li style="line-height: 1.38\; margin-top: 0pt\; margin-bottom: 0pt\;"><span style="color:#000000\;"><span style="font-family:arial\;">Expose students to a broad range of local\, skills-based careers.</span></span></li>\n	<li style="line-height: 1.38\; margin-top: 0pt\; margin-bottom: 0pt\;"><span style="color:#000000\;"><span style="font-family:arial\;">Strengthen connections among businesses\, educators\, and the future workforce.</span></span></li>\n</ul>\n\n<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38\;margin-top:0pt\;margin-bottom:0pt\;"><span style="color:#000000\;"><span style="font-family:arial\;">After the Expo\, participating businesses are invited to tour classrooms\, meet instructors\, and speak with current CTE students.</span></span></p>\n\n<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38\;margin-top:0pt\;margin-bottom:0pt\;"><br />\n<span style="font-family:arial\;"><strong><span style="font-size: 18px\;">How does the CTE Expo work?</span></strong></span><br />\n<span style="color:#000000\;"><span style="font-family:arial\;">Stations are organized by career cluster\, meaning businesses will be grouped with teachers and peers in related industries (ex. HVAC professionals with HVAC teacher/students in electrical workshop and classroom\, etc).&#8203\;&nbsp\;Many businesses will collaborate with a CTE teacher or standout student to create a 5&ndash\;10-minute hands-on activity for small groups (~10 students). Small groups of 8th graders will rotate through stations on a pre-determined schedule.<br />\n<br />\n<strong>If your business does not align with a CTE program: </strong>Prepare a hands-on activity or display to engage students and demonstrate your field.</span></span></p>\n\n<div style="line-height: 1.38\; margin-top: 0pt\; margin-bottom: 0pt\;"><br />\n<span style="font-family:arial\;"><strong><span style="font-size: 18px\;">What CTE courses are offered in Bedford County Public Schools?</span></strong></span>\n\n<div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left:0pt\;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A6q3GTkUv7MD6Zdb9b4G1l50Syk3JgaYJklYgtJjOvs/edit?usp=sharing">Click here to take a look!</a><br />\n&nbsp\;</div>\n<span style="font-family:arial\;"> <strong><span style="font-size: 18px\;">My business wants to participate. How do we sign-up?</span></strong></span><br />\n<span style="color:#000000\;"><span style="font-family:arial\;">We&#39\;re so glad you want to get involved! Please contact Foster Garrett\, Dir. of Marketing &amp\; Events for the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce\, regarding your interest in participating\, sponsoring\, and/or volunteering at the CTE Expo. She can be reached at marketing@baccva.org or (540) 586-9401.&nbsp\;</span></span><br />\n<br />\n<span style="font-family: arial\;"><strong><span style="font-size: 18px\;">I need more information before I&#39\;m able to commit. Who should I speak with?</span></strong></span><br />\n<span style="color:#000000\;"><span style="font-family:arial\;">Foster can answer any questions you may have\, but we also encourage you to attend our virtual information session on January 15 at 1:00PM. <a href="https://business.bedfordareachamber.com/events/details/2026-cte-expo-virtual-information-session-21668">Learn more and RSVP.</a></span></span></div>\n
LOCATION:Susie G. Gibson Science & Technology Center
UID:e.1335.21664
SEQUENCE:3
DTSTAMP:20260525T144713Z
URL:https://business.bedfordareachamber.com/events/details/2026-cte-expo-21664
END:VEVENT

END:VCALENDAR
