KeyBank Sponsors Junior Achievement Virtual Career Expo Supporting Southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky Students

Inspiring the next generation of community leaders, KeyBank again this year sponsored Junior Achievement of OKI Partner’s 2021 INSPIRE Career Expo. The program provides students with career development resources and is designed to develop a qualified future workforce. 

During the INSPIRE virtual event, high school students from 35 schools in Southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky navigated a virtual trade show floor to visit exhibitor booths hosted by local corporations offering company and career information. KeyBank served as the Business/Financial Career Sector Sponsor and provided an exhibit that featured the bank’s cyber security department and promoted the jobs in technology, design and other sectors that young people may not be aware of when they think of banking careers.

The 90-Day virtual event launched February 9^th with exhibitor booths that showcased available jobs, career resources, and student internship programs, plus offered a full day of live chat access with company representatives.  A second live chat day was held on March 16^th. 

On April 9^th a second tradeshow hall was opened in conjunction with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, where employers who were looking for student workers for summer jobs or had positions for new grads could promote their opportunities and take applications.  In addition, students and teachers had access to the entire JA INSPIRE website and all materials through May 9^th. 

A total of 2,832 unique students visited INSPIRE, with more than 4,356 total logins --meaning many students visited two or more times. A student survey answered by 516 students (18% response rate) confirmed success in achieving INSPIRE’s primary goals:

1. To introduce students to the high demand living wage careers available in our community.
2. Connect them to future employers.
3. Help them understand the education and experience required to become qualified in those careers.

Additionally, the survey revealed that:

• 90% of students reported finding career information that was useful as they continue to explore their career options.
• 89% reported finding information about at least one career that would be a good match for their skills and interests.
• 90% reported clicking on exhibits featuring careers they previously knew little or nothing about.
• 74% reported as a result of INSPIRE there is at least one new career option they will explore further.
• 72% reported they found at least one employer they may like to work for in the future.
• 89% reported they were able to find information about education and experience needed for a career they were interested in.
• 68% reported they would be talking to a parent or mentor about what they discovered at INSPIRE.

This was the second year KeyBank has sponsored JA INSPIRE in an effort to provide students with career development resources and help develop a qualified future workforce.  KeyBank values its partnership with Junior Achievement and believes in the need for the business community’s involvement in helping to develop skills and interests that lead students to careers where they can reach their full potential.  

For more information, visit: https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-oki-cincinnati/virtual-inspire