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The South Alabama Workforce Development Council (SAWDC) announced a $25,000 donation to support Experience N.O.W. (Navigating Opportunities and Work) at Reid State Technical College to advance career exploration and a training pipeline for
Alabama’s workforce.

Experience N.O.W. is an interactive career exploration event connecting career paths such as healthcare, hospitality, information technology, manufacturing and transportation to an estimated 2,600 college students, 10th and 11th graders in Conecuh, Butler, Monroe, Escambia and Wilcox counties. The goal is to build a stronger pipeline of students who are aware and can prepare through dual enrollment and career training for the vast number of careers in the region.

The new event mirrors the mission of Worlds of Opportunity (W.O.W.), which SAWDC previously hosted for more than a decade. The donation was provided to the Reid State Technical College Foundation to support Experience N.O.W. beyond its inaugural year.

“It means so much that one of our premier partners is committed to continuing something with the very mission for why we started at SAWDC: career exploration,” said Bridget Wilson, Executive Director of SAWDC. “We are proud to help launch a program that makes career exploration real and relevant and look forward to this event serving students in our communities for many years.”

Dr. Coretta Boykin, President of Reid State, thanked SAWDC for its longstanding support.

“Experience N.O.W. reflects our promise to help students find purpose in the workforce,” said Dr. Boykin. “We are excited to welcome students from across the region to explore what’s possible and to leave inspired about their futures.”

Experience N.O.W. is set to occur September 4, 2025, on the Evergreen campus. For more information, visit www.rstc.edu/experience.