Beaufort County Schools and Beaufort County Community College should be commended for their work to expose students to STEM careers.

STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math, is no doubt the cornerstone of future successful careers for these students.

Whether a person plans to stay in eastern North Carolina or move elsewhere, there will be jobs available in these fields at many different levels, from agriculture to mechanical engineering and design to computer work.

Beaufort County is known to be industry-minded, incorporating new curriculums at the college to accommodate needed jobs and encouraging its K-12 students to go ahead and take college courses while in high school.

Although other career paths are important, Beaufort County knows its economy and knows its agricultural and mechanical careers are vital to success. It caters to those industries, but also kicks it up a notch at the same time.

Recently, students at P.S. Jones Middle School paid a visit to Matthew Lincoln’s class at BCCC, where they worked on 3-D modeling programs. The students were able to see how these designs and drawings are not 2-D images on a screen, but rather the makings of heavy-duty machinery and equipment.

Many schools across the county host career fairs for their students, and the Career and College Promise program with Beaufort County Schools is top notch in offering opportunities for high-schoolers.

The community college is always open to school tours, as well as extending its service area to reach more people in more areas.

These efforts are going to take Beaufort County into the future, and the emphasis placed on college or career readiness will ensure a successful future.

The short-term benefits of school partnerships are already noticeable, and more importantly, the short-term benefits will soon translate into lasting economic benefits.

Keep up the good work.