The Natchez-Adams County EDA School to Careers Program continues to open children’s eyes to the possibilities in life. More than 200 students from Morgantown Elementary School toured the Fallin Career and Technology Center at Natchez High School Wednesday, while 10th, 11th and 12th grade students gathered in the high school auditorium to learn about communication.

Both events are products of the School to Careers Program of the Natchez-Adams County Economic Development Authority, said Cynthia Parker, coordinator of the program.

&uot;Things are going really well,&uot; she said.

Community response has been strong to a request for sponsors in this year’s Groundhog Job Shadow Day Feb. 2, she said.

So far, sponsorship has been found for 140 students, and organizers hope to sponsor at least 250 students by Friday.

Natchez Regional Medical Center has sponsored 55 students, and Natchez Ford Lincoln Mercury has sponsored 12 students for the shadow day. Many other Natchez businesses will sponsor five or fewer students per location.

Sponsored by the Education Committee of the Natchez-Adams County Chamber, the Natchez-Adams County Economic Development Authority and Junior Achievement, the job shadow day will allow ninth grade students a chance to see how school work has practical applications in the working world.

Parker said she met Wednesday with ninth grade principal Bobby Brown to iron out details of the shadow day.

&uot;We’ll try to match students with their areas of interest,&uot; she said.

On the shadow day, children will see a tour of the sponsoring company and then shadow designated workers for one hour. A School to Career Program partner will provide boxed lunches for all students and sponsors.

The job shadow day is designed to demonstrate the connection between academics and careers – showing the application of theories learned in class.

It also builds community partnerships between schools and businesses that benefit both, Parker said.

&uot;Job shadowing creates a critical link between education and success – between learning and earning,&uot; she said.