Local juniors and seniors from the area high schools were able to learn Tuesday about options available once their high school career is complete.
The Marion County Carl Loftin Career and Technology Center sponsored a Career and College Fair at the Columbia Expo Center. A large variety of businesses, military, colleges and universities had booths set up to recruit and offer information to make the students choices easier come graduation.
Columbia High School student Latotianna Redd said, “I feel like this was a lot of a stress relief. You think colleges are all about the ACT scores, but not every school places that as a top priority.” Redd is considering Louisiana State University for her future.
Columbia fireman Steven Bennett had a step climbing machine and a 165-pound dummy at the fire department’s display. Bennett was conducting a couple of the harder endurance tests a potential candidate would face at the fire academy. He was giving students the options of participating.
“It is really cool to see so many different colleges and careers available,” KaitLyn Fitzgerald of Columbia High School said.
Students were able to walk up to each of the booths and talk about the various careers that could begin straight from high school and/or talk to the different higher level schools to determine if the college or university is the right choice for them.
Some of the career options included banks, emergency medical personnel, firemen, sheriff’s department, military and private businesses. Colleges and universities from all over the state and Southern region had booths set up as well providing the students a wide range of choices.
Monica Watts with NASA had a booth set up. She said most people do not realize how many different types of jobs are available with NASA. Just about every profession out there is needed, she said.
Inflatables were set up offering the students a chance to play some games, such as basketball and a life-size foosball table. Door prizes were being given out throughout the morning.
“This has been pretty fun, pretty cool and very helpful,” Columbia High School student Caleb Broom said.
Pictured Above: Columbia fireman Steven Bennett keeps time for Greg Ballard Tuesday at a career fair inside the Columbia Expo Center while Ballard does an endurance test of walking a stair climber with a 75 pound vest. | Photo by Susan Amundson
