Photos by Susan Passmore
Yaretmy Trejo (right), eighth-grader at Highlands Junior School, discusses college opportunities with Grace Collins from Texas A & M University at the recent HJS 2nd Annual College and Career Fair.
Hunter Slovacek (left), a Lee College student and an intern at the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center, shows Auriel Hector a snake at the recent HJS 2nd Annual College and Career Fair. Also pictured are (from back left) Ethan Dyson, Karl Sagadan, Kolby Fenley, Brian Ayala and Rey Munoz-Hernandez.
Second Annual HJS College and Career Fair
By Susan Passmore
Eighth-grade students had the opportunity to learn about planning early for career success at the recent 2nd Annual Highlands Junior School College and Career Fair. Representatives from colleges, business and industry as well as other career areas participated in the event, allowing students to receive knowledge about educational requirements, endorsements and career paths for different fields of study.
“This College & Career Fair helped expose students to the multiple careers available and helped them to better understand where they fall as far as endorsements. The students have to select an endorsement this month and follow that career path the entire four years in high school,” said Tameka Staten, HJS counselor. “The students were afforded the opportunity to speak with people in those fields and get first-hand knowledge about their careers, the career path and job opportunities as well as the route to take as far as education, salaries, etc. in order to be successful in that field. The exposure gets students thinking about what career path they would be interested in before they get to high school and gives them more hands-on information to help them make great selections.”
Participants included Lee College, San Jacinto College, Texas A & M University and Houston Community College. Dr. Anthony Price, deputy superintendent for administrative services, discussed the importance of education with students. Representatives from Lee College Cosmetology, GCCISD Police Department, Lee College School of Nursing, Harris County Department of Education, Highlands Volunteer Fire Department, Patients Emergency Room, Walgreens, Attorney Weston Cotton’s Office, Community Toyota*Honda*Kia, Texas Department of Transportation, Wells Fargo and the Baytown Nature Center/Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center also were on hand for the event.
ExxonMobil, Communities in Schools, GCM Global Business Academy, REL STEM Academy and Robotics, RSS Health Science Academy, Stuart Career Tech High School Advance Auto Tech, SCTHS Academy of Culinary Arts, SCTHS Academy of Agricultural Science, SCTHS Manufacturing and Industrial Maintenance Academy, SCTHS Audio/Video and Computer Technician, Job Corps, Project GRAD Houston and GCCISD Career and Technical Education rounded out the list of participants.
Students were given handouts of all participants by endorsement, and they moved from station to station to discuss educational requirements, career opportunities, job requirements and salaries.
“We like to provide opportunities for our eighth-graders to see the different endorsements and the careers that go along with the endorsements. We appreciate all this support from the community, and we thank the colleges, the representatives from the various careers, as well as our Goose Creek CISD Career and Technical Education program, for helping our HJS students prepare for their futures,” said Gary Guy, HJS principal.