GROUNDHOG JOB SHADOW DAY; STUDENTS WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT CAREER CHOICES.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Daily News Staff Writer

Local students will have the opportunity to observe and talk to professionals working in area businesses about what their jobs are really like and what it takes to get into their field at a Groundhog Job Shadow Day in February.

Moorpark College representatives are recruiting local businesses to allow students to shadow their workers for two-hour shifts Feb. 2, Groundhog Day.

They said they are especially interested in attracting businesses in the health science, communication and teaching fields.

``It's really important for students to see the connection between what they do in their academic world and what they are going to do in their future,'' said Victoria Bortolussi, dean of Moorpark College's institutional advancement and administrator of the job shadow event.

``By having them shadow (in)something they're interested in in the work world, there's a good chance that they can see that connection,'' she added.

Students also will be able to see what kind of attire is expected on the job, the behavior expected of them and the educational background necessary to get the job.

Organizers said their goal is to have approximately 400 students from Moorpark, Oak Park, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Royal high schools, as well as from Moorpark College, participating. Other public or private schools, middle school through college, are eligible to sign up as well.

To date, the Ventura County Rotary clubs and Chambers of Commerce from several local cities have agreed to recruit businesses from their memberships. The local office of Junior Achievement will provide work-site insurance for all student participants.

The national event, now in its fifth year, is co-sponsored by Junior Achievement, America's Promise, the American Society of Association Executives and the School to Work office based in Washington, D.C.

Moorpark College is helping with the coordination as a School to Work affiliate. This will be the first year Ventura County schools have participated in the program on this scale.

Students will be divided into areas of interest and will spend two hours at the volunteering company. They will then take additional time in a classroom setting to talk about their experiences.

Mario Haug, senior vice president of operations for Junior Achievement, said part of the lesson of the day is to encourage students to expand their horizons and to think beyond careers that are popular choices but may not be suitable for them.

``We want to tell them that they don't have to be Michael Jordan, because there are hundreds of jobs that work with Michael Jordan,'' he said.

The job shadow event will culminate with an evening reception for employers, students and their parents in the college's campus center. In keeping with the theme of the day, a guest of honor will be a groundhog from the school's Exotic Animal Training program.

For more information, students and employers may call Chris Bliss, career technician at Oak Park High School at [phone], or David Wolf, community service and internship program director at Moorpark High School at [phone].