Jones County High School senior Carson Greene represented the Jones County College & Career Academy at the Governor’s Workforce Summit at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
Greene was one of five student panelists in the session “Pathways to Possibility: Where Talent Meets Opportunity” and the only high school student among college representatives from Georgia State University, Chattahoochee Technical College, Kennesaw State University, and Georgia Tech.
The summit brought together nearly 1,000 participants, including Governor Brian Kemp, State School Superintendent Richard Woods, and Deputy Superintendent for CTAE Dr. Barbara Wall. Greene had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with these leaders and share his perspective on Georgia’s workforce development.
“The Governor’s Workforce Summit is a huge honor. It’s a collection of speeches by keynote speakers and students who talk about the talent in Georgia and the skills that make the workforce better. Georgia is top in talent, and the governor wants to show off what makes our state special and give people like me the opportunity to speak out about how it can be sustained and improved,” Greene said.
Greene admitted that being the only high school student on the panel was intimidating at first.
“I didn’t realize when I looked around that all I would see were grown adults in college or the workforce. But it gave me a leg up because people want to hear about how high school is changing. I was able to use my voice to discuss the transition to college and how to make it more impactful for other students,” he said.
He said the experience showed him the importance of opportunities provided by the Jones County School System.
“The connection points our schools create are awesome. Touring the high school while in middle school, getting introduced to programs like CTAE and Work-Based Learning, and being encouraged to apply for things like this summit all matter. Those steps helped me get to where I am today,” Greene said.
Panelists answered questions about overcoming challenges and the impact of dual enrollment programs. Greene emphasized how dual enrollment shaped his academic success.
“You can take twice as many classes in just one semester, and it helped me raise my GPA. It gives you a head start with familiar instructors before you actually go to college. You can even graduate high school with an associate degree,” he said.
Greene’s accomplishments reflect Georgia’s vision for connecting students to meaningful career pathways. He is a dual pathway completer in Engineering and JROTC, a Work-Based Learning intern at BASF’s Edgar plant in McIntyre, and a TECH Academy participant exploring aerospace, robotics, IT, and welding. He also serves as Captain and Company Commander in JROTC, leading teams to multiple victories. Last summer, he attended a three-week engineering program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he designed an iPad solution for children with physical disabilities.
“One of my main points at the summit was that simple solutions can have a big impact,” Greene said.
He shared his biggest takeaway from the experience.
“It’s so easy to turn away from opportunities, but now I see how far I’ve gotten by saying yes. It’s crazy to think I’ve spoken to the governor himself when before I just knew his name,” he said.
Greene credits his family and Work-Based Learning Coordinator Lori Varnadoe for encouraging him to pursue these opportunities.
“None of this would have been possible without her help and guidance,” he said.
Greene plans to study mechanical engineering after graduation and continues to model the leadership and dedication that define Georgia’s future workforce.
