POWERGRAMS

EDUCATION An eighth-grader making his bed without complaint? Any parent will tell you, that's impressive. It was all in a day's work at Worlds of Work (WOW) in Tuscaloosa. Sponsored by Alabama Power at Shelton State Community College Oct. 8-9, the event brought busloads of eighth-graders face-to- face with their potential futures. Nine industry sectors – or "worlds" – were on display as students learned what it takes to succeed after school, and the rewards in store. "Truck drivers make a lot more money than I thought," said Daizah Lavender of Tuscaloosa Magnet School. "There are a lot of professions that do a lot more than we think they do," said her classmate, Alex Washington. The event, organized by West Alabama Works, a nonprofit created by the Region 3 Workforce Development Council of Alabama, had a clear purpose: to show students the abundant job opportunities available to them and to chart a path toward seizing them. "Engaging students at this age is so important because it is the start of career exploration for them," said Western Division Vice President Mark Crews. "Because of WOW, students have the chance to see what a future career could look like and how they can start preparing now." Students crowded around dozens of exhibits, rapt at seeing how some of their favorite things, like fast cars and ice cream, are created. Robotic arms whirred and darted, courtesy of Mercedes-Benz. ZF Chassis Systems showed off its high-end axles. And ice cream was made in a flash using dry ice. The most important creation, life, was also represented. In Healthcare World, students could perform surgery on a dummy patient. "I did that shocking defibrillator thing," said Bailey Jones of Hillcrest Middle School. At the lifeguard station, students were strapped onto medical stretchers and carried to safety. Students took turns delivering a baby from a realistic mannequin. Many said it was the day's most memorable experience. "The kids are very excited, especially the boys, which kind of surprised me," said Lindsey Prescott, a nursing student at Bevill State Community College. "They all want to be the doctor. They're loving it." The volunteers, including dozens of Shelton State students, were impressed by the eighth-graders. "We saw a couple of them shaking everybody's hands," said Tori McKinney. "It's impressive for a middle-schooler to realize that it's important to build those relationships right now." "They were all very well-behaved and just excited to see everything," said volunteer Alyssa Bracknell. The exhibitors were equally excited to show the behind-the-scenes work that goes into everyday living, from agriculture to power delivery to oil refinery. "The Worlds of Work is a win- win situation," said Western Division Distribution Manager Greg Long. "The students are exposed to a variety of potential career options and we are able to promote our company and what we have to offer in the way of career opportunities. If we are to continue to attract top-level talent, then we've got to get our message out and this gives us the opportunity to do that." In each "world," the emphasis was on the practical. Salary ranges were posted next to hundreds of job listings. Educational needs were conveyed, with many occupations requiring less than a four-year college degree. Exhibitors were chosen for their regional presence and willingness to hire. But hiring day was far off for the eighth- graders, who were happy just to sample the wide variety of careers they could choose. A few even participated in a frantic bed- making race, sponsored by Hampton Inns in the Hospitality World. That's right – Worlds of Work even made making your bed fun. By John Herr Busloads of eighth-graders see their futures at WOW 2 Varnons Crew Headquarters Line Clearing Specialist Joey Hamm and Birmingham Division Vegetation Management Leader Doug Standridge clear a right of way for public safety and to prevent outages. Photo by Joseph DeSciose. ON THE COVER: Alabama Power employees demonstrated safety around power lines. Students operate on mannequin. Photos by John Herr

• Cover