Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) hosted its annual College and Career Fair in the Anaheim Convention Center on Oct. 14, 2024. Students and parents from across the district, including junior high schools, had the opportunity to talk with representatives from two-year and four-year colleges, trade schools,  AUHSD schools, and other community and career resource organizations. AUHSD-specific programs like AIME also had exhibits to provide students and parents with resources. AUHSD schools also had exhibitions of Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways they offer, including those exclusive to AUHSD such as Biotechnology and Drone Technology. 

“[It’s] a great opportunity to learn about the colleges you are interested in, especially because you have access to information you wouldn’t get from somewhere else,” said Oxford Academy sophomore James Han.

Along with allowing students to learn more about colleges they are interested in, the fair opened up possibilities for some students to consider new options that they were previously unaware of. The diversity of the organizations represented at the fair helped students prospect alternatives to well-known organizations, like popular four-year colleges, and explore other options like two-year universities or trade schools.

“Coming to the college and career fair, I realize that there are so many colleges that suit exactly what I’m looking for that aren’t super well-known,” said Oxford Academy sophomore Shay Tiettmeyer.

As the fair offered a wide variety of career programs, students also had the chance to learn more about paths not offered or taught at their schools. The representatives of the organizations at the fair, including student representatives from AUHSD schools, informed students about the programs offered and what students could do in high school to gain more opportunities for the future. 

“College and Career fairs are super important for students to gain exposure about what’s out there, like scholarships and degrees, and looking at things that are out of state as well that can be quite affordable,” said Admissions Counselor Casey Shubin from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF).