On April 15, 2026, more than 200 Ponca City high school seniors gathered at City Central, 400 E Central Avenue, for a transformative day of career exploration, professional development, and community connection. Senior Career Day, a collaborative event between the Ponca City Development Authority (PCDA) and Ponca City Public Schools (PCPS), gave graduating seniors a rare opportunity to step outside the classroom and into the real world of work, all within their own community.
The event lasted all day and began with a dynamic morning schedule of 12 career tours across Ponca City’s business community. Students visited local employers spanning STEM, manufacturing and trades, education and business, and retail, sales, and food sectors. Tour sites included Log10 Microbiology Lab, Century Products, SCL Business, Rusty Barrell, City Engineering Department, O’Neill’s Farm, WT Architecture, Heather Cannon Honda, Medical Talk, Stolhand Wells Group, Central Administration PCPS, and Sunny Creek Trading Post.
Alongside the tours, students selected from nine breakout sessions led by local professionals covering topics including managing stress, personal finance, critically needed occupations in Oklahoma, resume and interview skills, local career opportunities, Career Tech pathways, tribal workforce development, college study habits, and harnessing the power of artificial intelligence. Sessions were led by experts including a licensed professional counselor, a credit union vice president, a university enrollment administrator, a Pioneer Technology Center coordinator, and the City of Ponca City’s Emergency Management Director, among others.
The afternoon brought students together for a community luncheon at El Patio Taco Bar in the Summit at City Central. During lunch, volunteer table hosts sat with groups of six students to lead conversations about careers, life after high school, and reflections from the morning’s activities. Following lunch, students heard from two keynote speakers Adam Leaming, Superintendent of Ponca City Public Schools, whose keynote “Unlocking Your Wildcat Future” encouraged students to see the possibilities ahead. Chief Executive Officer of the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce, Shelley Arrott, then delivered an empowering session titled “Be Unforgettable,” before students participated in mock interviews with their table hosts.
“By the end of the day, our students had answers, and not just one answer for everyone,” said a Liz Leaming with Ponca City Development Authority. “Some are heading to college. Some to Career Tech. Some into the trades and local businesses that power this community. That clarity is exactly what this event was designed to create, and it is what happens when a community comes together to address workforce needs and invest in its next generation.”
Senior Career Day reflects the PCDA’s broader mission to address workforce shortages and build career awareness among young people in the Ponca City region. By connecting students directly with local employers and professionals, the event demonstrates that meaningful career pathways exist right here at home, and that great employers are ready and willing to invest in the people who will fill them.
The Ponca City Development Authority extends its deepest gratitude to every volunteer, tour host, breakout speaker, table host, and mock interviewer who gave their time and expertise to make this event possible. Special recognition is also due to Ponca City Public Schools, whose dedication to student success long after graduation is evident in every senior who walked through the doors of City Central. These students were curious, engaged, and full of potential which is a direct reflection of the educators who champion them every day.
Ponca City Public Schools and the Ponca City Development Authority look forward to continuing this partnership and expanding Senior Career Day in the years ahead.
