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Draft Day 2024 | A career event designed to match employers with high school seniors
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leading the movement to bring a new generation of pride, progress, & professionals to north america’s skilled workforce.

198,432

Visitors

43,853

Impacted

690

Cities/Towns

1075

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LEARN ABOUT THE SKILLS GAP

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BUILDING TOMORROW’S WORKFORCE

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UPCOMING EVENTS

22
Apr

Farmington Junior High School

Mon, Apr 22 - Mon, Apr 22

Farmington, AR
23
Apr

Elkins High School

Tue, Apr 23 - Tue, Apr 23
259 Carrigan Rd
Elkins, AR
24
Apr

Scranton High School

Wed, Apr 24 - Wed, Apr 24
103 N 10th St
Scranton, AR
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LIFELONG PROFESSIONS START HERE

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660
Training Programs
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113
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Milestones

Addressing The Skills Gap

Be Pro Be Proud is proud of the partners, volunteers, and future skilled trade workers who are making an impact on the skills gap.

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November 9, 2023

Be Pro Be Proud launches in New Mexico

The Be Pro Be Proud initiative launched in New Mexico, making it the sixth state in the National Network.

October 12, 2023

Be Pro Be Proud launches in Tennessee

Be Pro Be Proud launched in Tennessee in mid-October 2023. Community and business leaders gathered together at Volunteer State Community College to officially kick off the program. STEM supervisor for Sumner County Schools was quoted in an article on WKRN saying, “With Be Pro Be Proud Tennessee, we aim to change the perception of these valuable career opportunities and give our students a chance to explore diverse professions, such as electricians, welders, commercial truck drivers, linemen, heavy equipment operators, CNC machinists, forestry workers, and more.”

April 14, 2023

Draft Day 2023 Grows to Four Events and Builds Talent Pipeline for Major Employers in Arkansas

Draft Day 2023 strategically paired graduating seniors currently enrolled in CTE courses in four markets across Arkansas with employers ready to hire them upon graduation. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, more than 100 participating companies, and more than 4,000 high school seniors participated. "Though we are experiencing a national shortage of skilled trades professionals in our workforce, through our program, we have commitments from over 4,000 qualified students interested in pursuing technical professions," said Andrew Parker, the executive director of Be Pro Be Proud. "Now is the time for our employers to help support the next generation of talented trade workers."

March 15, 2022

Draft Day 2022 Strategically Pairs Qualified Students with Employers

Draft Day 2022 strategically paired graduating seniors currently enrolled in CTE courses in northeast Arkansas with employers ready to hire them upon graduation. Be Pro Be Proud Draft Day was held from 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM, at Jonesboro High School. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, more than 30 participating companies, and more than 200 high school seniors participated. “The seniors are doing interviews, they’re finding out what their career path will be like with different companies,” Hutchinson said. “The companies need good, skilled workers and it gives them opportunities to recruit some of the top talent coming out of our career centers and high schools.”

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Top Tier Partners

Arkansas Department of Education Logo

Arkansas Department of Education

Arkansas Office of Skills Development Logo

Arkansas Office of Skills Development

Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce Logo

Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce

Lexicon Logo

Lexicon

Nucor Logo

Nucor

The Poultry Federation Logo

The Poultry Federation

Union Pacific Logo

Union Pacific

Weyerhaeuser Logo

Weyerhaeuser

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