Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative will host a Futures Fair at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 5.
This event, which was hosted by the Montezuma-Cortez school district before the Education Collaborative took over, is meant to offer local students a glimpse into career opportunities, higher education programs and nonprofit.
“This event promises to provide an invaluable opportunity for local Montezuma and Dolores county students to delve into an array of career pathways, discover local resources and explore education options,” the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative said in a news release.
According to Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative’s Mollie Lewis, the Futures Fair will feature eight institutions of higher education, 32 nonprofits, 15 government agencies and 15 private firms.
Students will be bused to the Montezuma County fairgrounds to attend the “career and college-type fair, and while at the event, students will be able to meet representatives from each organization in attendance, allowing them to network and meet professionals in fields they may be interested in post-graduation.
Mancos High School is taking their sophomore students to the event, while Montezuma-Cortez High School, Dolores High School and Dove Creek High School are taking junior and senior students.
“The Futures Fair is designed to empower students with knowledge about diverse career opportunities available in the region,” the news release said. “Students attending the fair will have the chance to engage directly with representatives from more than 70 local employers, higher education partners and nonprofit organizations. From interactive displays, career networking and job opportunities, the event aims to spark curiosity and inspire students as they consider their future paths.”
Lewis said that the event is meant to “spark curiosity and inspire students.”
“We are thrilled to host the Futures Fair, providing our local students with a firsthand look at the multitude of possibilities awaiting them beyond high school,” said Tai Rogers, career and college coordinator for the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative. “This event serves as a bridge between education and the workforce, allowing students to explore various career options and make informed decisions about their future.”
Rogers added that the participating schools were eager to provide this opportunity to their students, saying that “fostering connections between students and local resources” locally helps “cultivate a vibrant and skilled workforce that contributes to the growth and prosperity of the region.”
According to their website, the Southwest Education Collaborative is a nonprofit working to expand educational opportunities for students in rural Colorado.
More information about the Futures Fair can be found by contacting Rogers at trogers@swcoedcollaborative.org. The Collaborative’s website can be found at www.swcoedcollaborative.org/.
