Sanford Regional Technical Center held its annual Career and College Fair on Thursday, November 9th. The fair provided an opportunity for students to engage with representatives and receive valuable insight, whether they are interested in college or are considering entering the workforce directly after high school.
Over 110 companies, colleges, and military branch representatives came out for the fair. Nearly 1,000 SHS and SRTC students attended the event, which was broken into a.m. and p.m sessions. SRTC’s resident career planning coordinator, Jenn Bartlett, coordinated the fair. Career Explorations Coordinator Katie Schindler assisted in sharing the fair prep curriculum with students, ensuring that they were well-informed and prepared to make the most of the event.
“We had a spreadsheet with all the colleges and companies that are coming in to research ahead of time,” SHS senior Cole Legere said. “We came in prepared with questions in mind for the colleges we’re interested in.”
For students interested in entering the workforce, the fair offered a chance to interact with various employers who provided information about potential job opportunities upon graduation.
Former student Raiden Cruz experienced the benefits of the fair firsthand when he was in school. Cruz graduated from the Building Trades Program and is now in Sargent Construction Academy’s Apprenticeship Program.
“I saw Sargent and thought, ‘That looks really cool,’ so I figured I’d try that,” Cruz said.
Peter Parizo, who works in Workforce Development for Sargent Construction, said in addition to focusing on a student’s skills, he also prioritizes intangible qualities such as motivation to work and enthusiasm for the job. Parizo said Cruz showed those qualities when they met at a previous career and college fair.
“He’s going through the process and doing all of the right things,” Peter Parizo said. “I’m just super proud of Raiden.”
From companies to colleges and military branches, the Career and College Fair was an invaluable experience for students who attended. The work behind the scenes to coordinate the event was also a team effort, with students, administrators, and instructors all chipping in to put on a successful fair.