There's a gap between learning and work for our students. In an effort to make strides in bridging that gap, the United Way of Southwest Virginia, Ignite, and United Way Volunteer Center will present this exciting event! The Careers Expo for Youth, September 26-27, will be held at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Abingdon. The event is an extension of the United Way of Southwest Virginia Ignite Program and will host more than 4,000 7th grade students from Southwest Virginia (17 school systems, 46 schools). Students will move through four zones filled with over 75 hands-on activities by regional employers in 16 different career paths. Students will participate in five-minute hands-on activities at employers’ stations. Employers can show them firsthand what it’s like to be a chemical engineer, accountant, IT specialist, social worker, and more. For example, students could be able to: climb a utility pole, try on SWAT gear, practice CPR and giving shots, participate in a chemistry experiment, and use a 3-D printer to create a 3-D object! Interested in volunteering? Visit http://www.volunteerswva.org/need/?s=1&need_init_id=4 to sign up for volunteer opportunities at this event! If you have questions about volunteering, email Debby Loggans, Volunteer Center Manager, at dloggans@unitedwayswva.org.