Reno County welcomed more than 270 sixth-grade students from across the county for the 2025 Career Quest Public Service Day on Wednesday, May 7. Despite rainy weather, students spent the day learning about diverse career opportunities in local government and public service.

A Day of Hands-On Learning

Held inside the Reno County Courthouse, the event gave students a firsthand look at the people and departments that keep our community running. Some classes also toured the Reno County Landfill, where they learned about the essential work done there and the career paths available.

Inside the Courthouse

Students rotated through various departments and interactive stations, including:

• Information Technology (IT): Students explored IT careers, examined the internal components of computers, and got to handle hardware like hard drives and circuit boards.

• Health Department: Staff introduced students to a wide range of roles and services, showcasing how public health impacts the community.

• County Administrator & Commissioners: County Administrator Randy Partington and several County Commissioners spoke about the workings of local government and leadership roles.

• Human Resources (HR): Students learned about hiring, employee support, and participated in a conflict resolution activity, highlighting skills essential in HR.

• Sheriff’s Office: Deputies displayed equipment like shields and gas masks and talked about careers in law enforcement. Students even got to try on the gear!

• Rural Fire District: Firefighters described their jobs, demonstrated life-saving tools like the jaws of life, and discussed fire safety and rescue techniques.

• Reno County Area Transit (Rcat): A driver explained how Rcat keeps people moving and described the skills and responsibilities needed for the job and the impact they have on the community.

• District Court: On the third floor, students participated in a mock trial, taking roles like judge, attorney, witness, and juror. Judges Trish Rose and Judge Daniel Gilligan guided students through the court process and explained each role.

City of Hutchinson Activities

In addition to the county departments, students visited several City of Hutchinson sites including:

• Carey Park

• Animal Shelter

• Public Works

• Parks Maintenance Building

• Hutchinson Police Department (HPD)

At the Law Enforcement Center, students learned from HPD about crime scene investigations, drone operations, and handled some of the tools officers use daily. Officers were on hand to answer questions and share their experiences.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Career Quest Public Service Day gave students a unique look behind the scenes of public service and inspired many to consider future careers in local government.

Thank you to the students and teachers who joined us—we loved sharing our passion for public service with you. We hope to see some of you working alongside us one day!