Hartselle students get hands-on with high-demand careers through Be Pro Be Proud experience
Last week, students at Hartselle High and Hartselle Junior High School had the unique opportunity to explore a wide range of technical career fields through hands-on simulators. The event introduced students to careers in commercial truck driving, forklift operation, welding, heavy equipment and excavator operation, utility bucket truck work, digital technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and robotics, plumbing, electrical work, HVAC and carpentry.
Hartselle is the first school in Alabama to host the Be Pro Be Proud mobile unit, a cutting-edge experience that brings simulation-based career exploration to students across the state.
“We are very excited to have the Be Pro Be Proud truck on our campus,” career tech coordinator Elisa Harris said. “There are school systems all across Alabama waiting for the opportunity to host this simulator experience.”
Ben Brugge, tour leader for the Be Pro Be Proud (BPBP) van, said the program is designed to expose students to the many options available outside of traditional four-year college path.
“At Be Pro Be Proud, we want to show kids that there are lots of different career pathways,” Brugge said. “Four years isn’t for everybody—there are two-year programs, the military—but what I tell them is, they can’t just sit at home and do nothing. There are tons of good options out there, and this experience lets them try things for themselves, not just hear about them.”
Brugge noted that with many skilled professionals nearing retirement, there is a growing need for energetic young people to enter the technical workforce. “These careers are wide open,” he said.
The simulator stations were staffed by local volunteers who were trained to operate the equipment and guide students through each experience. “These simulators are just like the ones used at the community college level to train students in these fields,” Brugge said.
Be Pro Be Proud is a statewide initiative led by the Alabama State Department of Education, aiming to promote skilled trades and technical careers. According to the program’s website, “Now is the time to act. By changing how Americans think about the job opportunities provided by skilled professions, we can inspire today’s youth and lead them—and our country—down the path to prosperity.”
The Be Pro Be Proud initiative also operates in Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, and New Mexico, with a Texas launch on the horizon. Alabama’s BPBP unit is headquartered in Mobile.
For more information, visit www.BeProBeProudAL.org.
