Futures in Focus

Formerly known as “Gateway To Your Future”, this hands-on career exploration event relates to Better Together’s Common Agenda goals 5 and 7. In f 2023 and 2024 Nacogdoches County students had the opportunity to explore high demand careers by hands-on activities like practicing drawing blood on a fake arm, practicing plumbing on a real toilet, and other fun, engaging opportunities. Bridge Year, a Houston-based nonprofit agency, brought 6 hands-on career simulations: phlebotomy, electrician, plumber, pharmacy technician, network technician, and automotive technician. Students from area schools were invited to “test drive” two of the six choices. In the event’s second year in 2024, local industry professionals attended and they also set up booths with hands-on activities. These events were made possible by Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, with support from SFA Center for Applied Research and Rural Innovation, Better Together, Charles and Marie Bright Foundation, Nacogdoches ISD, and Workforce Solutions of Deep East Texas.

2025 brings a whole new look and a new name to this event! We are excited about the addition of SFA as a sponsor and host for the event, in partnership with Better Together, Workforce Solutions, and SFA’s Center for Entrepreneurship. In October 2025, we will invite one thousand 8th graders from Nacogdoches County and beyond to explore careers that are high-paying and in high-demand in East Texas through hands-on experiences and person-to-person connections with employers, community colleges, and SFA faculty. They will get to explore the different pathways, including technical careers that only require specific training, associate degree paths, and higher education pathways. This empowers students to pursue careers where they can start earning a living wage potentially immediately out of high school, or also choose to invest in educational opportunities that open other doors.

If you are an employer interested in showcasing your field at the 2025 Futures in Focus event, please fill out the form below and we will follow up with you!