Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Students enjoy getting an up-close look at Petey Ivey's race car.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Second and fifth graders explored all the "bells and whistles" of a Lockhart Fire Department truck.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Students learn about alternative energy and how to charge a City of Union Department of Public Safety car.

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Derik Vanderford|Daily Times Students were interested in hearing stories about a wildlife-oriented career with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

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UNION — An event held Friday at Union County Fairgrounds gave local students in second and fifth grades a look at careers — on wheels.

The idea for the Careers on Wheels event came from Lockhart School guidance counselor Jennifer Seeman. Seeman originally thought of the event as something for students at her school, but later decided to collaborate with career facilitator Wilbur Smith and turn the event into a district-wide experience.

A total of around 600 students visited the fairgrounds on Friday, rotating through various stations and exploring vehicles.

“We are very appreciative of everyone who donated their time, being away from their career and day-to-day activities to be here,” Seeman said at the event.

Second-graders and fifth graders enjoyed playing with sirens and loudspeakers on fire trucks, imagining being behind the wheel of a race car they could see up close, seeing maintenance and waste vehicles in action and asking lots of questions of all kinds.

Seeman said she and Smith are looking forward to making Careers on Wheels an annual event.

Staff Writer Derik Vanderford can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 29, or by email at dvanderford@heartlandpublications.com.