October 10, 2025

JASPER - All freshmen in Dubois County had the opportunity to turn curiosity into career exploration during the 5th Annual Tour of Opportunity at Vincennes University Jasper on Wednesday, Oct. 8. The event connected students with local businesses and industry professionals, showcasing a diverse range of potential careers available in their own community.

The Tour of Opportunity is part of a broader strategy—alongside events such as the 7th Grade Reality Store and 8th Grade Career Cruise—to build career awareness from junior high through graduation.

From healthcare and education to advanced manufacturing and communications, students toured local worksites and engaged in hands-on activities, spotlighting high-demand careers. 

Hub19 Dubois County Director of Workforce Readiness Dana Kunz shared how this strategic approach builds long-term impact.

Kunz said, "Engaging students as high school freshmen is imperative because it sparks career awareness at a critical point in their education. By starting this journey early, we create a continuum of career awareness throughout their high school years. As juniors and seniors, they will participate in the job fair, where they may network with employers, ask deeper questions, and begin to see themselves in Dubois County Careers. Finally, with the addition of work-based learning experiences, by the time they reach Senior Decision Day, our hope is that they have both confidence and clarity about their next steps, whether that's enrollment, enlistment, or employment. The result is a stronger pipeline of talent ready to contribute to the growth and vitality of Dubois County."

VUJ Center for Technology, Innovation, and Manufacturing Director Jacob Berg said the Tour of Opportunity highlights the University's commitment to workforce and community development. 

"When students can see, touch, and experience career paths firsthand, it has a major impact," Berg said. "Events like this are the bridge between education and opportunity, and they also show students that their future can start right here and continue in Dubois County."

Several Tour of Opportunity industry partners hosted students on-site for the first time, including Hutson, Inc., a John Deere dealership, Meyer Distributing, and Heart of Jasper. Other participating partners included WBDC Studios, German American Bank, Builders Association of Dubois County, Jasper Elementary and its in-house daycare named Little Wildcats, Jasper Engines and Transmissions, Kimball Electronics, Kimball International, Indiana Furniture, Deaconess Memorial Medical Center, Southwestern Indiana Child Advocacy Center Coalition, LifeSprings, Jasper Police and Fire Department, and Versteel.

The Tour of Opportunity is more than a one-day event. It supports VU Jasper's dedication to empowering students, strengthening communities, and sustaining the local Dubois County economy for future generations.

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