Deer Park Chamber Highlights Student Goals for Graduation

The Deer Park Chamber of Commerce discussed the importance of connecting local businesses with students during their Oct. 20 meeting, which featured four local high school seniors sharing how their school experiences are preparing them for life after graduation. Deer Park School District Superintendent Alexa Allman and Riverside School District Superintendent Ken Russell led a discussion about each district’s “profile of a graduate,” which outlines the skills and characteristics students should develop before leaving high school. The presentation emphasized that preparing students for the workforce requires collaboration between schools, businesses, and the broader community. Business owners were encouraged to offer internships, job-shadowing opportunities, mentorships, classroom presentations, and real-world projects to help students explore career paths. Deer Park School District developed its own graduate profile following surveys of community members, parents, and families. The district identified six key attributes, including critical thinking, confidence and independence, personal and social accountability, effective communication, adaptability, and community involvement. Russell said Riverside School District uses the Washington State Board of Education’s “profile of a graduate,” emphasizing cultivating personal growth and knowledge, solving problems, communicating effectively, sustaining wellness, embracing diversity and differences, and mastering life skills and self-agency.

Four seniors – Leah West and Josh Krantz from Deer Park High School, along with Ajah Helm and Jackson St. Clair from Riverside High School – discussed how their school activities have helped them develop those skills. The students described involvement in athletics, student government, clubs, volunteering, art, and robotics. Their post-graduation plans ranged from pursuing college degrees and military service to exploring career options through internships and mentorships. West said she plans to attend Milligan University in Tennessee to study occupational therapy, with an interest in working with children with special needs.

St. Clair is applying to military service academies and said he hopes to become a pilot. Helm, who participates in Running Start, said she is considering a gap year to explore her interests, including art. Krantz said he has been admitted to Montana State University and is working on his application to Oregon State University. The attendees then broke out into four small groups, with each senior joining a table. The breakout groups identified qualities they value in graduates, and discussed the importance of communication between schools and businesses, as well as mentorship and volunteer opportunities. Allman and Russell encouraged business owners to help students understand potential career paths and develop workplace skills. They also noted that local levy funding supports many extracurricular activities that help students build leadership, teamwork and other skills

The chamber also reviewed several upcoming events, including Pumpkin Lane on Oct. 31, the chamber’s annual gala scheduled for Nov. 7, and Hometown Christmas planned for Dec. 5. In another announcement, Rachel Meyer shared that Winterfest will not take place in January after 40 years because no one volunteered to serve as the event’s lead organizers. She said she hopes to collaborate with the Deer Park Chamber of Commerce to incorporate outdoor activities and vendors into Hometown Christmas next year. The next Deer Park Chamber of Commerce meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17 at noon.