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On May 24, students at Portland Elementary School got a chance to put their future in writing as UofL’s College of Business continued its yearlong outreach project at the West Louisville school with a “Professional Signing Day.”

Sixteen speakers gave an overview of their careers to the students, said Beth Davis-Sramek, associate marketing professor, who helped coordinate the day. The speakers included COB professors and staff, Army officers, a horse trainer, a police officer, a musician, dental hygienists, doctors, pharmacy students and employees from Papa John’s Pizza, Texas Roadhouse, Norton Healthcare and Heuser Health.

Every child received a t-shirt that read “Future ______.” The children used markers to fill in the blank.

“We handed out the t-shirts first, and then after the kids listened to all the speakers, they ‘filled in the blank’ with what profession they want to pursue,” Davis-Sramek said. “Our goal was just to give them exposure to people, places and ideas outside of Portland, and we are thrilled to have the local business community help us.”

Portland Elementary – whose 300 students almost all qualify for free/reduced lunch – has been adopted by the college in a program called the Elevate Portland Initiative. Since the fall, students, faculty and staff from the COB have donated warm clothing, snacks and tablet PCs to the school, which is part of UofL’s Signature Partnership Initiative.