LUMBERTON — The Southeastern NC Agricultural Events Center was filled with excitement, chatter, innovation and students dreaming about what their future careers may look like during the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Showcase Event event held Wednesday and Thursday.
PSRC 8th graders from all schools could be seen participating in interactive activities at stations throughout the event. The annual event allows students to see what career pathways are available through Career and Technical Education courses offered at PSRC high schools and PSRC’s Robeson County Career Center. These courses and pathways give students an opportunity to graduate high school with credentials, certifications and skills needed to be job-ready.
The real impact of the event wasn’t in the content itself but in the delivery and messages from passionate CTE students.
CTE students led with excitement, confidence, and passion, showing their peers what’s possible and encouraging them to imagine their own futures through Career and Technical Education pathways.
“We facilitate (the event),” said Darlene Pittman, a Project Management teacher. “They’re the ones taking the lead with activities.”
Multiple CTE students shared their excitement and lessons learned at the Project Management station where students used blocks to create building models. The station was one of many including Automotive, Welding, Emergency Medical Technology, Business, Foods and Nutrition and more.
Lumberton High School senior Colin Scott plans to become a helicopter lineman. Scott could be seen with Project Management classmates Zachery Locklear, Chloe Maxwell and Jason Johnson building models at the Project Management station.
One of the most important lessons learned from the class were “life skills” for Scott.
Maxwell shared plans to enlist in the military and become a nurse. Locklear shared dreams of becoming a lineman and Johnson shared plans to become a HVAC professional, business professional and owner of a farm.
Students shared they have gained leadership skills, teamwork and communication skills.
“I hope they want to take this class,” Johnson said of 8th graders attending the event. “It looks good on resumes too.”
Pittman looked on as the students collaborated and shared what they had learned in the class with 8th graders.
“They really are a good group,” she said.
Pittman also shared hopes for 8th graders who decide to enroll in classes in high school.
“I hope they get confidence and leadership skills,” she said. “They can move up and become the project manager.”
Even more, the goal for the CTE program as a whole is student success.
That success shows up in the readiness that PSRC leaders refer to as “Robeson Future Ready.”
PSRC Career and Technical Education Director Herman Locklear shared his definition.
“We are preparing students to be ready for any avenue they choose to go down,” he said.
CTE courses offered at PSRC high schools and the Robeson County Career Center prepare students with soft skills and content skills.
“Students are able to receive credentials and certifications that will position them ahead of their peers and other candidates in the job market,” he added.
But perhaps, the most compelling part of the journey for students to that readiness and their future careers is what drives them: finding their passion.
“What really thrills me is to see a student find their passion and when they find that passion no matter what it is they thrive for it,” Locklear said.
As the district prepares to open a new Career Center in 2026, district leaders are planning and looking ahead with anticipation for its impact on students, families, industries and economics in Robeson County as a whole.
The new facility will include industry labs designed to host businesses that train students through reverse internship programs, and its state-of-the-art features will strengthen existing programs while providing students with a hands-on, career-focused learning environment.
“Opening in 2026, the Robeson County Career and Technical Education Center and Planetarium will provide state-of-the-art facilities and programs to prepare students with hands-on skills, industry credentials, and career pathways, supporting workforce development and economic growth in the region,” he said.
“We are committed to continuing the work of laying a strong foundation for students to build upon in the future. In every classroom, program and lesson, we are helping shape a successful tomorrow for every student,” Locklear added.