Students get a line throwing demonstration from employees with AEP River Transportation Division.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and U.S. Congressman Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va., get a tour of the pilothouse simulator at the Point Pleasant River Museum and Learning Center during the “Who Works the River” job fair.
Amherst Madison employees speak to students on the M/V Charleston.
Students tour the pilothouse of the M/V Charleston.
Students attending the “Who Works the River” job fair this week, prepare to board the M/V Charleston at Point Pleasant Riverfront Park. Employees of Amherst Madison gave students a tour of the vessel.
POINT PLEASANT — Students from both Mason and Gallia counties participated in the “Who Works the River” job fair this week held at the Point Pleasant River Museum and Learning Center.
In fact, 110 students from both the Mason County Career Center and Buckeye Hills Career Center, participated in the event organized by RiverWorks Discovery and sponsored by many companies in the maritime industry.
At this year’s event were: AEP River Transportation Division, Amherst, Marathon Petroleum Marine Transportation, Inland Waterways Mountwest, Murray American Transportation, USACE, American Commercial Barge Line, Superior Marine, United States Coast Guard.
“At RiverWorks Discovery, we do a lot of different types of programs…this is one of my favorite ones we do because of the collaboration that happens,” Errin Howard, of RiverWorks Discovery said. “We had 10 different companies and organizations, many of whom are competitors by day, but when supporting this, came together for the future of the river industry, and put on this program to educate area youth.”
“Who Works the River” provided those students with free admission into the river museum where they rotated between stations set up by different companies to find out information on careers in the maritime industry. Students were also given a deck hand training session and participated in line throwing. In addition, a tour was given of the M/V Charleston which belongs to Amherst Madison.
“It is really a privilege to introduce some of the youth of Mason County and Gallia County, to the career opportunities supported by the river industry,” Brian Patterson of Amherst Madison, who as on the planning committee, said.
Howard said the program has been presented in 12 cities with plans to return to Point Pleasant in 2017 and expand into Huntington.
In addition, sponsors helped pay for the transportation to get students to the job fair.
Reach Beth Sergent at bsergent@civitasmedia.com or on Twitter @BSergentWrites.
