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Special to the Daily Journal/Messenger

Brad Tyler, a local surgeon, talks about his job and lets the students play Operation to see if they can do it, too.

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Special to the Daily Journal/Messenger

Curtis BlackwellÕs Bluegrass Band performed for the students at the end of the Arts and Career Expo day.

WESTMINSTER — Orchard Park Elementary School cancelled regular classes to allow students to experience arts, music and the world of work for a day on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Career participants included John McGuffin, Captain Steve Jenkins and Sgt. Tyrel Woodring from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Department, Dr. Brad Tyler of Upstate Surgery, Jonathan Humphries of the National Guard, Jeremy Garrett of First Baptist Westminster, William Tatum of Oconee Memorial EMS, David Jones of Glass and Mirror in Seneca, Greg Lucas from the Department of Natural Resources, Tiffiney Addis of Captured Moments Photography, Jeff Hubbard of Oconee County Schools and Shannon Prater of Me and My Shadow Pet Grooming. Artists and musicians participating in the Arts and Career Expo were Bob and Carla Rogers, Matt Crain, Fred Edgerton, Bob Lipscomb, Pat Huggins, Sandra Wiggains, Gene Fehler, Sandra Denny, Ray Conway and Wayne Lee.

After a bag lunch, students enjoyed musical concerts by the West-Oak Middle School band and chorus, and Curtis Blackwell’s Dixie Bluegrass Band.

The purpose of the Arts and Career Expo is for students to see how everything they are learning now, as well as character traits such as knowledge, determination, resourcefulness and fairness, will help them in a career one day. It also gives the students ideas of what they might aspire to be when they grow up.