Page 45 - 2026 VB Community Profile

www.hillwww.hillvisioncenter.comvisioncenter.com EDUCATION
479-262-2080
479-262-2080
117 Northridge Drive Van Buren, AR 72956
been chosen as Ambassadors for the
campus. Two each were chosen from
the Construction, Art and Patient Care
disciplines to serve. Udouj described
www.hillwww.hillvisioncenter.comvisioncenter.com their attitudes toward the added
479-262-2080 responsibility as “very positive.”
479-262-2080
117 Northridge Drive Van Buren, AR 72956 “These students give tours of
HRS: Mon, Wed, Thurs 7AM-5PM, Tues 8AM-5PM our campus, work with prospective
Dr. Denise Hill Dr. Alex Turner business partners, and represent the
campus very well,” Drackett added.
“They all had to go through additional
training, and have fully embraced the
program.”
A major career exploration event for
junior high school students, the iCAN
Career Expo, held in fall 2024, drew
2,080 students from Fort Smith and
surrounding region schools, along with
150 employers. Students were able to
visit with employers who were clustered
by type of business, based on the
student’s YouScience aptitude scores.
“These events fit perfectly into our
Explore (through 7th grade)/Plan (8th
grade)/Prepare (High School) Career
Development track,” Udouj explained.
“Students are finding out there are
opportunities for them to build good
careers whether or not they go on to
earn post-secondary degrees.”
Other events such as Draft Day and
Signing Day further demonstrate those
Looking for a opportunities, with graduating students
being rewarded with employment
solid career at area companies immediately after
earning their diplomas.
The State of Arkansas updated
opportunity? its Career and Technical Education
pathways for 2025, with a four-year
rollout of recognized programs that
Join our team by may alter the course of future additions
to the Peak curriculum.
contacting us today: “We will always be working to lead
Join our world Bekaert Corporation in these efforts,” Udouj concluded.
“When we opened, we were the first in
of wire 1881 Bekaert Drive the state, but now we’re hosting groups

Founded in 1880, Bekaert is specialized in Van Buren, AR 72956 from not only Arkansas, but Oregon,
Oklahoma and Texas, and there will be
steel wire transformation and coatings. T 479.474.5211 more in the future who look to us as an
Our company has been a steady long-term example of how to best prepare these
employer in Van Buren for 50 years. www.bekaert.com students for a bright future.”

vanburenchamber.org Van Buren Chamber 2026 Community Profile 45