More than 900 students from the Socorro Independent School District focused on their futures at the 11th annual College, Career and Job Expo. The event at Montwood High School on March 23 connected sophomores, juniors and seniors with education and workforce partners to explore job opportunities, summer internships and postsecondary education options.
Kyla Rempfer, a sophomore at Mission Early College High School, attended the expo to obtain information about college engineering programs. As an aspiring biomedical engineer, Rempfer met with representatives from the University of Texas at El Paso and New Mexico State University to gain insights into how to succeed in their programs. NMSU’s chemical engineering program piqued her interest.
“I think it's really important, yeah, because it can give students more insight into what their future could hold for them,” Rempfer said about the expo.
More than 60 businesses and 49 college and university programs attended the event. Students met with professionals from a variety of fields, including recreation, food service, engineering, law enforcement, the U.S. military and healthcare.
“All our kids are following a program of study, so we connect the employers with the students,” said Brenda K. Gonzalez, SISD coordinator of Business and Industry.
Employers at the expo included the El Paso Chihuahuas, City Water Parks, El Paso Live, Chick-fil-A and Charlie Clark Nissan, many of which have hired Socorro ISD students who have gone on to long-term careers with the same companies, Gonzalez said.
Analea Olaes, a junior at El Dorado High School, was considering a career in taxidermy after meeting with a taxidermist at the event.
“He talked about his experience with studying and living with animals and everything. It was really interesting. I loved it!” Olaes said.
Montwood High School junior Gene Palmer was searching for a summer internship in the medical field. He said having the expo at his school made it easier for him to explore different career opportunities.
“I think it's easier for us because we get to see more jobs that are available,” Palmer said.