Chase Hoskins
Contributing Writer
Senior Owen Gillis-Davis thought his future was in the veterinary industry until a Chelsea Center job shadow helped him realize he “definitely” didn’t want to be a veterinarian.
The Center was founded in 2010 in honor of Chelsea Detrick, a Webster Groves alumna who passed away in 2009 from cancer. The center was founded by her father, Glenn Detrick, as a construction legacy to her love of school and adventurous spirit.
Glenn said in an article by Elon University, “I felt that I could be depressed, or I could work to guide the future in a positive way. I wanted to create something constructive and useful in her memory.”
The Chelsea Detrick Memorial Scholarship was also created in her honor, offering $1,000 to a student who is “conscientious, hard-working, motivated, intelligent, and admired by WGHS teachers for their attitudes and personalities.”
The Chelsea Center offers students opportunities to gain hands-on experience. Experiential Learning Teacher Patrick Bommarito said, “[The Chelsea Center has] about, I would say, about 60 to 70 students right now.”
Bommarito said one of the most popular job shadows is partnering with the Webster Groves Animal Hospital. He said this helps people find out that they love the job, or maybe it’s not right for them.
The Chelsea Center has also partnered with Mercy Hospital for 40 hours of job shadowing for nursing as a course.
“A big part [of the Chelsea Center] is the exploration… and people seeing themselves in the fields as a young person before they declare majors and start spending money,” Bommarito said. The center has helped over 3,000 people through hands-on activities and contributed over 86,000 hours to organizations.
“Become involved with Chelsea Center opportunities by stopping by Room 200 to inquire, emailing us for an appointment to share your interests and learn what we have available in those areas, filling out our Get Involved – Students interest form, or signing up for a semester Chelsea Center class with your counselor at course enrollment time,” according to the Webster Groves Chelsea Center website.
Feature Photo: Picture wall outside the Chelsea Center showcases experiences through the Chelsea Center. Photo by Chase Hoskins.
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