SAVANNAH, GEORGIA - Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia, in partnership with 18 local businesses, hosted its 4th annual career day at Sol C. Johnson High School on Wednesday, April 20, 2016.

At the event, high school students were able to interact with local business professionals and to participate in hands-on demonstrations, which exposed them to what a typical day looks like for professionals across various sectors.

"I've never talked to a lot of women who are in big math and science things,” said Kiera Napolitano, a Junior at Johnson High School. “For her to be like, 'oh she bought a business and it’s a construction business,' is good because I want to go into engineering; there's not a lot of women in engineering."

Napolitano’s realization encapsulates the power that authentic and relevant experiences can have when infused with real-world business connectivity. The breadth of businesses that participated in the career day allowed students to learn about careers that they may have never been exposed to.

Companies that participated include: Advertising Specialty Services, The Art Institutes, AT&T, Chatham County Juvenile Court, Collins Construction, Empire Beauty School, Georgia Power, Gulfstream, Jasper Design Services, JE Dunn Construction, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Savannah Fire Department, Savannah State University - Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Savannah State University - University Counsel, Savannah Technical College, Sebrell Smith Entertaining, SunTrust, University of Georgia Department of Foods and Nutrition.

“Our programming depends on partnerships with companies like these to bring relevant business experiences that truly change the way students think about their futures,” said Jack Harris, President and CEO of JA of Georgia. “We are thankful to the support these companies give to Savannah area students throughout the entire school year, and look forward to continuing our partnerships.”

Many of the businesses who participated in Wednesday’s event are also participating in Mayor Eddie DeLoach’s Summer 500 program, which begins May 31, 2016. The inaugural summer internship program will give students the opportunity to gain real-world experience in a professional setting, helping them to build their soft skills and explore possible career paths.