Students gain knowledge at Eugene College Fair

St. Elizabeth junior Brooke Struemph is looking to study biology or another field of science after she graduates high school. She visited with more than 30 different educational institutions Thursday to see what they could offer to help achieve her goal at the Cole County R-5 High School College Fair.

Struemph joined several other high school juniors and seniors from St. Elizabeth, New Bloomfield, Russellville, Miller County R-3 (Tuscumbia) and Cole County R-5 school districts at the college fair. In addition, a Eugene eighth-grade teacher also used the fair for one of her classes, encouraging the students to gather information on admission requirements, types of colleges and how to be prepared for college. Guidance, information on various degree programs and specifics on higher learning facilities were plentiful.

"I like the fair because it gives you the opportunity to get to know the different colleges at one time and broader perspective of the types of educational and other opportunities out there after you graduate," Struemph said, noting she is considering attending Missouri State University or William Woods University.

The Cole County R-5 High School College Fair has taken place annually since at least the 1980s, said high school counselor Lucas Morris. He said it has grown over the years, and this year, 37 public and private colleges and alternate career institutions were available to share their programs with students.

Morris said the college fair was also an opportunity for Eugene National Honor Society students to assist with the event, as well as giving them some additional contact with the representatives in attendance.

"We have about 75 percent of our graduates go into a post-secondary institution after they graduate whether it is a four-year or two-year college or tech and trade school. We then have around 1-2 percent of the graduates that go into some form of the military, and the remaining 23 percent end up going straight into the workforce," he said. "In recent years, we have invited branches of the U.S. Armed Forces to attend this event and talk with students about military service. This year, we have representatives from both the Army and Marine Corps League at the fair."

Additional alternate education and career options included representatives from cosmetology schools and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, as well as Job Corps in Missouri.

Kim Stockstill, admissions counselor for Job Corps in Missouri, said she attends a lot of college fairs and often doesn't see graduates again until they are out of school and still undecided on their career path. However, the Job Corps, which primarily assists low-income youth, offers career training programs in various fields, career counseling and other resources to help students find jobs.

For all higher learning representatives at the college fair, the event not only helps students find out more about specific programs and institutions, it provides convenience and one-on-one contact with the facilities' staff.

"These students need to see a lot of colleges, and it is hard to do that with both expenses and time. A lot of kids are very involved in school, work, friends and family and don't have the time to visit a lot of schools on their own," said Erica Mitchell, recruiter at Culver-Stockton College. "This event brings so many schools and programs to them so they can shop around and find out what school and program is right for them."

Morris said he hopes to expand the event in the future, adding local businesses to talk with students. In addition, the Russellville school district is planning a spring college fair for sophomores and juniors.

"Each college has their own strengths and excels at different programs, so it is important for the students to interact with them and see which is the best fit," Morris said. "They get to know them better, and it encourages them to think beyond graduation and plan for the next step in their education and their lives."