BY JEFF NOBLE

STAFF WRITER

The Tri-County’s mid-dle schools and high schools want their stu-dents prepared for the future. Because the bot-tom line is this — to get a good job, get a good education.

So before 10th Graders at Corbin High School prepared for class, groups of them met Tuesday morning with professionals who may have something in common with the stu-dents. Common because they work in the career field those students may want to be in someday.

It’s why the Corbin Independent Schools began their version of “Operation Preparation” first. And why other par-ticipating schools will be holding “Operation Preparation” this month, to advise 8th and 10th Graders about the steps they need to take for col-lege and a career.

Because the Kentucky Department of Education has declared the week of March 12-16 as “College/Career Readiness Advising Week,” several public schools that are partici-pating will hold their events during those days. Others will have them before or after the special week designated by the KDE.

Broadcaster Mike Green had plenty to tell students in one of the sessions at Corbin High, which dealt with careers in communications.

“I love what I do. I really love going to work in the morning. Not everybody can say that,” Green told a group of 10 students. Green, who works for WKKQ-FM (Mix 96) in Barbourville, was one of four panelists in the session, which included Thor Bahrman III of WCTT-FM (T-107) and WKDP (99.5 FM) in Corbin, Megan Williamson, a production specialist with the Corbin Independent Schools and formerly a producer with WYMT-TV in Hazard.

Wearing a hat remi-niscent of the swingin’ days of the 1950s, Green used that hat to describe to students how “he wears many hats” in his work with the Barbourville radio clus-ter of three stations.

“Yesterday I did the ‘Swap Shop,’ then I did a couple of commercials and a couple of promos for the 13th Region Girls Basketball Championship Game, which we broadcast. That evening, I drove up to The Arena, and did the play-by-play for that championship game...There’s never a dull moment with what I do.”

Playing a high-tech game of “Show and Tell,” Bahrman downloaded on his computer some of the earliest-known recordings in history. The first one was only a tone, but the second one was of a woman singing in French. When Bahrman explained how

those humble beginnings are now what’s the busi-ness of sound engineer-ing, he got the students’ attention fast.

And it was fascinating.“The first one was

from the 1850’s. The one with the woman singing was from the 1860’s. Someone who may have been the first sound engineer, used a cone and a piece of hair from a pig, which was prickly and used as a stylus. Those were the first sounds to be recorded. They could record it, but they couldn’t play it back. Thank goodness, we can now,” Bahrman stated.

Now a full-fledged industry, sound record-ing is everywhere, and involves movies, music, television, and other uses. Bahrman advised those wishing to get into the industry to go to schools with good repu-tation. “The hot spots for sound engineers are Los Angeles, New York, Nashville and in Florida. But if you go to schools that specialize in sound recording, make sure it’s a fully-accredited one, and not a fly-by-night operation.”

Williamson used her experiences in producing television newscasts to dispel any myths that electronic media is usu-ally a glamorous job.

“It’s not for everybody. It does involve stories that involves the tragic and seamy side of the world. You go to scenes of accidents and crimes, sometimes, and you interview people who were involved in those events. It’s not for the faint of heart. And it’s not for lazy people. Definitely not,” Williamson told the 10th Graders.

Williamson pointed out the work involves working shifts, nights and weekends. And in the case of last week’s tornado outbreak in Kentucky, everyone is involved.

“Many of those people at WYMT, the Lexington

stations, and stations in neighboring states worked around the clock covering the story. And for a lot of those people, those stories happened where they live, so the tragedy hit close to home.”

“That panel on com-munications met one-on-one with the students, and our counselors also used the student’s Individual Learning Plan (ILP) to look at students career hopes, the skills needed for that career, and the education and/or training required for the career. They also used the ILP to see if the stu-dent is on track to meet their goals, and whether the student is taking the recommended courses to prepare them for their future,” said Susie Hart, the Entrepreneurial and Outreach Programs Coordinator for the Corbin Independent Schools.

Among the examples of what Hart called “career clusters” were volunteers who work in agriculture, construc-tion, health services, information technology, public services and transportation.

Many of the other public schools in the area begin their sessions next week. More on

those schools’ plans, and how you can volunteer to help on their panels, can be read later this week in the Times-Tribune.

13ATIMES-TRIBUNE / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012OF INTEREST

WIN THIS GAS GRILL RETAILS OVER $1000!

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN! WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JACKSONPROPANEPLUSLONDON

PLAY BALL!It’s time to get ready for baseball and softball!

Baseball & Softball Bats

10%off

Special PricesppPants, Belts & Socks

901 N. Main St. • London, KY • 606-864-2207 Monday - Friday 8:30-6:00 • Saturday 8:30-5:00

will be at

Lowe’s Lowe’s Sporting GoodsSporting Goods

March 8th, 2012 • 4:30-6:00March 8th, 2012 • 4:30-6:00

LEXINGTONLEXINGTONLEGENDS CARAVANLEGENDS CARAVAN

Bat Bags, Cleats,& Ball Gloves

20%off

with the Legend’s Mascot with the Legend’s Mascot and Radio Announcersand Radio Announcers

Little League Baseball signups for ages 7-12 have been extended until

Saturday, March 10.Signups are being held at the Corbin

Recreation Center on Barbourville St. during their normal operating hours.

Signups are also being accepted for girls

Little League Softball, ages 7-12, wee ball and tee ball ages 3-6

Dances You Learn:Swing, Waltz, Slow Dance, Salsa

7:00-8:00 PM, Monday or FridayOrganize your own group.

Minimum 5 couples per classThe classes will be charged as you attend.

THIS IS YOUR CARD AND WILL BE PUNCHED EACH TIME:

March SpecialYOUR 4 LESSONS CARD

$24.00

472 N. Highway 1223(American Greeting Card Road)

Corbin, KY 40701-3814 Ph. (606) 280-7228, Cell 261-6431

Email: dance@nwcable.net

Ballroom Dance

Academy(Am(

PPPhP . (E

Albert BallaAlbert Balla Dance Master Dance Master

Karen RamageKaren Ramage

Tri-County schools hold ‘Operation Preparation’

PHOTO BY JEFF NOBLE

Corbin High School 10th Graders shake hands with Mike Green of Mix 96.1 FM (second from right), and Thor Bahrman III of T-107 FM and WKDP-FM, after their career sessions Tuesday morning at the school. The session was about careers in Communications, and coincided with students at Corbin High taking their ACT tests later in the day.