MITCHELL— Students took center stage at the first-ever COSMOS Reverse Career Fair on Thursday, transforming the gym at Mitchell High School into a showcase of talent, passion, and possibility.
Hosted by The Collaboration of Shoals, Mitchell, and Orleans Schools (COSMOS), the event welcomed LifeSkills juniors and seniors from Mitchell and Orleans Jr./Sr. High Schools. In a fresh take on the traditional career fair format, students created display boards to present their interests, career goals, and personalities to visiting professionals. From favorite childhood characters like SpongeBob SquarePants and Thomas the Tank Engine to heartfelt hopes for the future, the displays reflected each student’s unique journey.
“At COSMOS, we believe in creating meaningful opportunities for students to be seen, heard, and supported—and the Reverse Career Fair did just that,” said Apryl Kidd, COSMOS Director. “Thank you to everyone who helped make this event such a success. We’re grateful for strong partnerships that help all students thrive.”
Students who participated in the event included Bella Houston and Landon Bennett of Orleans High School and Mia Thacker and Alex Watterson of Mitchell High School.
The event also drew strong support from local employers and organizations, including Ben Franklin/ACE Hardware, French Lick Resort, Hoosier Uplands, Lawrence County Economic Growth Council, the Southern Indiana Center for Independent Living (SICIL), and United Way of South Central Indiana.
“The reverse job fair had a great first year, bringing businesses and potential employees together to discover their skills and explore suitable job opportunities,” said Eric Cuellar, LifeSkills teacher at Mitchell High School.
Lisa Higgins, a LifeSkills teacher at Orleans High School, highlighted the broader impact of such events: “People with disabilities are valuable assets in the workplace, offering diverse skills, perspectives, and problem-solving abilities. Organizations that prioritize disability inclusion often have stronger connections with their communities, and reverse job fairs are great opportunities for business owners and prospective employees to see why this is a good and viable option.”
More than just an event, the COSMOS Reverse Career Fair celebrated inclusion, growth, and potential, reminding the community of the value every student brings to the future workforce.
