Chanute High School and several middle school students had the chance to visit with 88 vendors at the annual CHS Career Fair. Registrar Laura Kmiec said the event helps students consider their options after graduation.
“It is designed for students to explore their post-education options, learn about different career paths and the opportunities they have in the community,” she said.
Senior Jacob Hurtado, who plans to study HVAC technology after high school, said he appreciated the fair’s community focus.
“It is nice to look at what businesses are offering locally,” he said. “It is great to be able to ask them questions and possibly find a summer job or even a career.”
The fair originally began as a college fair, Kmiec said. She estimated that local businesses and additional postsecondary options were added around 2007. Junior Faith Collins said she liked the balance.
“It seems like this year they have an equal amount of colleges and careers,” she said. “I think that’s great because not everyone wants to go to college.”
Collins, who is interested in becoming an electrician, said she has not yet settled on a specific program.
In recent years, the fair has expanded to include Chanute Middle School eighth-graders. Kmiec said it is valuable for younger students to begin thinking ahead.
“It gives them the opportunity to start thinking about what they want to do after high school and gets them excited about all their options,” she said.
