Teens think college and career possibilities!

Nearly 400 students participated in the fifth annual KPBSD College and Career Fair held at the Soldotna Sports Center on October 21, 2014. Representatives from 48 colleges, vocational and technical education schools, and dozens of counselors and staff made a commitment to providing KPBSD students with an opportunity that many may not otherwise have, and opportunity to discuss education, career paths, and financial aid.

KPBSD schools sent junior and senior high school students to this event armed with questions and support from their school counselors. By completing a scavenger hunt, students were encouraged to meet with multiple colleges and institutions to gather information and explore what life after high school might be like. Students from local homeschooling programs and private schools were invited to come as well. Representatives from KPBSD and KPC were also there to assist with financial aid questions and scholarship information.
Students gathered in the halls to talk and share what they learned with each other, before beginning the journey back to their home towns—whether that was Seward, or across the bay in Seldovia or Nanwalek, or Razdolna, Kachemak-Selo, Voznesenka, Nikolaevsk, the Homer area, or closer to the college fair location at the Soldotna Sports Center.
Living in Alaska, along with the cost of travel, can often make college visits difficult for prospective college students. The KPBSD College and Career Fair brings students together with college and career and technical institutional representatives to meet face-to-face in one convenient location.

“The College and Career Fair is a wonderful opportunity for students to begin to navigate their path to life beyond high school,” said Sara Moore, district counselor. “It is our hope that this event helps to open up the communication lines between students, parents and school counselors regarding the many options available.”

“This is a great opportunity to showcase our students for these colleges as they make their tour throughout Alaska,” said John O’Brien, KPBSD director of secondary education. “If it weren’t for this local venue, a lot of these students would not have the opportunity, or have access to all of these programs.”

“We are excited to have so many post-secondary institutions visiting our district to meet with our students,” said Sean Dusek, assistant superintendent of instruction. “This partnership allows our students to explore their college and career aspirations in a convenient and safe location. This is due to the large number of students in our district that are qualified for post-secondary education.”
Thank you to all the organizers, institutions, and counselors who make this annual event possible for KPBSD students.

Educational institutions included

Alaska Christian College, Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, Alaska Pacific University, AVTEC – Alaska’s Institute of Technology, California Baptist University, Central Washington University, Colorado State University, Corban University, Eastern Oregon University, Eastern Washington University, Grove City College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Humboldt State University, Idaho State University, Kenai Peninsula College, Lewis & Clark College, Lincoln College of Technology, Linfield College, Mayville State University, Montana State University, Montana Tech, Northern Arizona University, Northern Industrial Training, Oregon Coast Culinary Institute, Oregon Institute of Technology, Pacific Lutheran University, Peninsula College, South Dakota State University, Southern Oregon University, Southwestern Oregon University, The Art Institutes, The College of Idaho, Universal Technical Institute, University of Alaska – Anchorage, University of Alaska – Fairbanks, University of Alaska – Southeast, University of California – Davis, University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Idaho, University of Portland, Utah State University, Western Washington University.

Link
College Fair, http://bit.ly/KenaiPeninsulaCollegeFair