The Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop, a 40-foot rig that showcases numerous technical professions through gamified simulators, visited Newton High School, Newton College & Career Academy, and Alcovy High School in October. 

The Mobile Workshop allows students the opportunity to gauge their interest, skills, and aptitude for various technical careers. 

Students in the Newton County School System had the opportunity to “Join the Movement” and be connected to training and potential employers that are in need of new employees to replenish the diminishing workforce in various professions. 

“Be Pro Be Proud Georgia supports our school system vision of ensuring students are well-rounded and prepared for the future. It is an exciting opportunity for our students to further connect their content knowledge and skills directly to advanced learning and employment opportunities,” stated Newton County School System Superintendent Samantha Fuhrey. 

The initiative’s gamified stations allow students to see what it’s like to get behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler, assemble a PVC pipe, analyze human anatomy through augmented reality, bind metal through a virtual welding experience, and test hand-eye coordination through an engaging skills challenge. 

“We are thrilled, along with our partners at the Newton County School System, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, and the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, to offer the Be Pro Be Proud experience to Newton County high school students,” said Asher Dozier, VP of Economic Development for the Newton County Industrial Development Authority. “Doing so introduces our students to the opportunities available in our region for high-demand, high paying skills and lays out pathways available to maximize their opportunities for meaningful employment. Students trained in these high demand areas are prepared for lifelong success while also supporting a talent pipeline for the industries that are so important to the continued economic vitality of Newton County and the surrounding region. We look forward to continued partnerships with Newton County Schools as we believe that nothing is more important to the success of our community than the success of our K-12 students.” 

Since 2020, Be Pro Be Proud has hosted more than 11,000 visitors on the Mobile Workshop, across 30 cities and 60 tour stops. Newton County’s decision to invite Be Pro Be Proud to their campus adds the school district to a growing number of communities that see the opportunity for their students to have high-tech, high-earning careers without going into debt. In revitalizing the professional workforce, the state of Georgia’s economy will continue to grow, and communities will be stronger and more prosperous.

Be Pro Be Proud Georgia is a statewide workforce development initiative working out of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development that connects students around the state to high-tech, high-paying careers. Through partnerships with state agencies, local industry and higher education entities, Be Pro Be Proud is effectively working to replenish the professional workforce that has been experiencing a drastic decline.