IDS Hosts Back-to-Back Job Extravaganzas

The Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) recently hosted two Job Extravaganzas in consecutive days, bringing hands-on career exploration opportunities to high school students in both South Mississippi’s Pine Belt and Gulf Coast regions.

Job Extravaganzas are interactive learning events designed to give students with disabilities the opportunity to experience real-world job tasks in a supportive and engaging environment. Through rotating workstations hosted by local businesses and community partners, students gain exposure to a variety of careers while practicing important workplace skills and building confidence for future employment.

On February 26, students from Hancock High and Middle School gathered at the Hancock Performing Arts Center for a day of career exploration. Participants rotated through hands-on stations designed to reflect real job duties while connecting with local professionals and community mentors.

The event featured a wide range of career experiences made possible by generous community partners, including The Southern Lemon, Home Depot, Coastal Family Health Care, Troy Dufene Lawn Care, AMB Creations, the Hancock High School Library, Matthew Devers Welding, Jasmine Banks-Surtain, and others who volunteered their time and expertise. Job Corps members also served as peer mentors, and guest speaker Connie Richardson, MSN, FNP-C of the USM Gulf Park Health Center shared words of encouragement with students.

The following day, IDS welcomed students in Laurel for another exciting Job Extravaganza featuring interactive workstations and hands-on learning opportunities. Students explored a variety of career pathways while engaging directly with local employers and community partners. IDS extends special thanks to Magnolia Soap & Bath Co., Community Bank, Senior Helpers, Rooster’s Diesel Service, and the Laurel-Jones County Library for creating engaging and educational experiences for students.

IDS staff also contributed dynamic learning stations at both events, offering experiences in areas such as coffee roasting and packaging, photography, t-shirt printing, 3D printing, cosmetology, and more.

Job Extravaganzas are made possible through IDS’s partnership with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS), which supports efforts to prepare students with disabilities for meaningful employment and greater independence.

IDS is grateful to the schools, businesses, and community members who helped make these back-to-back events possible. When communities come together to support inclusive career exploration, students gain the opportunity to envision—and begin building—their futures.

For more information about Job Extravaganzas, including how you, your loved one, or your school district can participate, please contact IDS Executive Coordinators for Transition Services: Beth Robertson (Long Beach Campus) at 228.214.3422 or beth.robertson@usm.edu, or Joseph King (Hattiesburg Campus) at 601.266.4021 or joseph.a.king@usm.edu.