Bridging the Career Gap – “Be Pro Be Proud” Initiative to Showcase Skilled Trade Careers
Lexington County School District One has invited the Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center and its shareholders to learn more about the Be Pro Be Proud
initiative and tour the custom-designed, 53-foot 18-wheeler on Friday, October 9 at White Knoll High School.
Designed as a mobile skills workshop to attract talent to fields including transportation and logistics, utilities, construction and diesel technology,
the 18-wheeler features hands-on simulators for commercial driving, forklift and heavy equipment operation, carpentry and welding among other industry
applications.
Lexington County School District One is honored to be one of the first in the state to offer tours to educators, business leaders, and students. The tractor-trailer
will tour schools and events around the state promoting skilled trade careers to parents, teachers, and students, educating them about unique career
opportunities that exist across several skilled trade professions.
“Being an advocate for our schools and students is critical and connecting students to available career paths is an important responsibility of the business
community,” said Angelle LaBorde, Chamber President and CEO.
Be Pro Be Proud SC began three years ago as a workforce development project led by several association partners including the Associated Industries of South Carolina Foundation,
the S.C. Trucking Association, Carolinas AGC, Home Builders Association of South Carolina,
the Forestry Association of South Carolina and the S.C. Chamber of Commerce.
Modeled after a program in Arkansas, the partners focused on making the initiative a reality. South Carolina is now the second state in the country to
feature the Be Pro Be Proud program.
“Building a workforce that aligns with the opportunities that exist in South Carolina is crucial to the future of our state,” said Ted Pitts, S.C. Chamber
of Commerce President and CEO. “Be Pro Be Proud SC brings opportunities in skilled trades and professions across the Palmetto State. We need a workforce
for the future, and Be Pro Be Proud SC is the solution.”
How to Participate:
Limited tour slots are available at White Knoll High School on Friday, October 9, with tours starting at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Masks are required. The
18-wheeler will be parked in the student parking lot at 5643 Platt Springs Road, Lexington, SC 29073.
To sign up, you must pre-register in advance by emailing [email protected] and specifying your
requested tour time (1 or 2 p.m.).For more information, call Angelle LaBorde at (803) 359-6113 ext. 105.
To learn more about Be Pro Be Proud, visit https://www.beprobeproudsc.org/.