Students from the career technical classes at the Troy-Pike Center for Technology will be walking in shadows all across the Pike County community Wednesday as they participate in National Groundhog Job Shadow Day.

Rhonda Flowers, career counselor for the Pike County and Troy City school systems, said that National Groundhog Job Shadow Day, is a campaign that gives young people a new perspective on their studies through hands-on learning and a one-day mentoring experience.

Job Shadow Day is held annually on Feb. 2 to coincide with Groundhog Day. On that day Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s most famous groundhog, will emerge from his burrow and, if Phil sees his shadow, legend has it that six more weeks of winter weather will be forecast. If not, the country can prepare for spring.

The shadows that will be cast locally could have a far more reaching effect than six weeks for the students in the career technical classes.

“The students will spend the day at businesses in their career field,” Flowers said. “For example, the health occupations students will spend the day with those in the medical field. We also will have students who are working toward careers in welding, information technology, engineering, aviation maintenance and carpentry.”

Following their job shadowing experiences, the students will go back into the classroom and write about their experiences and share them with their classmates.

To participate in National Groundhog Job Shadow Day, a student must be in good standing with his or her class.

“The business community has been very willing to allow our students into the workplace,” Flowers said. “This experience will help the students decide whether they are on the right career path. We are very appreciation of the positive response of the business community.”