MITCHELL, S.D. (KELO) — Over 200 high school students interested in teaching careers were part of this year’s Educators Rising Learning Expo at Dakota Wesleyan University.

“We know that a lot of teachers will end up in school districts very close to the school that they went to or the school that they went to. Educators Rising allows school districts to give students early exposure to the teaching profession,” event organizer Stephanie Gelderman said.

Breakout sessions were led by education professors and current Dakota Wesleyan education majors.

“I think education kind of has a negative connotation around it right now,” DWU student Miranda Hanson said. “It’s so fulfilling to see all these students that are coming and hoping to be future educators because it’s such an inspiring and impactful career. Helping them make that decision is something that I really enjoy.”

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Gelderman said Wednesday was about creating excitement around the teaching profession. It’s also encouraging students to consider a career not only in education, but to pursue that degree at Dakota Wesleyan.

“The reason that I’m at Dakota Wesleyan is because of the Dakota Wesleyan Learning Expo that I came to my sophomore through senior year of high school when I was part of Educators Rising,” DWU student Kinsey Price said. “It helped cement that I wanted to go into the field of education and help me narrow down that I really wanted to go the English route.”

20 different schools across South Dakota were represented at the annual expo.

“I think programs like these are what help inspire our future educators,” Hanson said.

Dakota Wesleyan University’s Education Department includes seven specialty majors and is housed within an on-campus elementary school.