Dubois County honors 74 seniors choosing jobs or military service

Seventy-four Dubois County seniors are heading straight into paychecks or service uniforms, a clear sign that the county’s talent pipeline is already feeding local employers and the military before graduation day arrives.

Hub 19, Inc. recognized the students Friday, May 1, during Senior Decision Day at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center in Jasper. The seniors came from Jasper High School, Southridge High School, Forest Park High School and Northeast Dubois High School, and each has chosen employment or military enlistment as the next step after high school.

The setting underscored the local stakes. The Thyen-Clark Cultural Center at 100 Third Ave. Suite B is not just an event space; it is home to Jasper Public Library and Jasper Community Arts, placing the ceremony in the middle of downtown civic life. Northeast Dubois Jr./Sr. High School listed the event on its calendar for 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., making it one of the morning markers of the spring graduation season.

For Hub 19, the event fits a broader workforce strategy. The organization says it focuses on workforce development and building a local talent pipeline by connecting students with employers through career exploration events, internships, hands-on training and leadership programs. It works with the county’s four school corporations, local industry partners, the Patoka Valley CTE Cooperative and Vincennes University Jasper to align students with jobs that match regional needs.

That matters in a county where manufacturing remains the dominant employer. Dubois Strong says manufacturing leads employment in Dubois County, with demand tied to furniture, cabinets and engines. In that kind of economy, the students recognized Friday are not just graduating, they are stepping into a labor market that already depends on local workers to keep plants and shops running.

The labor picture remains tight. A February 2026 county snapshot listed Dubois County’s unemployment rate at 3.0%, with 21,112 employed residents in a labor force of 21,762. That means the 74 seniors entering jobs or service are joining a workforce where employers are still competing for reliable help and military enlistment remains a visible post-graduation path.

The county also has a support network for those who choose service. The Dubois County Veterans Service Office assists veterans, service members and families, and holds a weekly veteran breakfast in Jasper, a reminder that enlistment remains tied to community support long after the ceremony ends.

Senior Decision Day turned a graduation milestone into a workforce update for Dubois County: 74 young people are moving directly into the jobs and service roles that help shape the county’s economic future.