Catholic Central recently hosted its 2026 Career Conference Series, providing students with the opportunity to hear directly from alumni working in a variety of professions. 

The series ran from February through March and featured speakers from fields including healthcare, engineering, law, finance, law enforcement, and the skilled trades.

The sessions are held during school hours and are designed to give students a better understanding of different career paths, the education required, and what day-to-day work looks like in each profession. Students can register for the conferences through their school counselors.

The first conference took place on Wednesday, February 4, when Dr. Grant Prior ’14 spoke with students about careers in dentistry. Prior discussed the scope of the profession, why he chose dentistry, and the steps involved in becoming a dentist. He also shared insights about dental school and offered advice to students interested in pursuing a career in the field.

On Thursday, February 5, Spencer Hicks ’09 presented on careers in engineering, sharing his professional background and discussing opportunities within the field.

A law-focused panel was held on Tuesday, March 3, featuring Judge David Law ’87, Mike Butler ’71, and John Carlson ’87, who spoke about their work and answered questions from students about careers in the legal profession.

On Wednesday, March 4, another panel explored careers in finance, accounting, law, and sports, giving students a broader look at several professional areas.

The series also included a Law Enforcement Career Guidance Conference on Tuesday, March 10, led by alumni Chris Wegienka ’95 and Nick Soley ’08, who discussed their careers and the path to working in law enforcement.

The most recent session took place on Wednesday, March 11, when Mike Smiley ’96 spoke with students about construction management and the opportunities available in the construction industry.

Catholic Central plans to continue the Career Conference Series as a way to connect students with alumni and provide exposure to different career paths.