GENTRY, AR — What do you want to do when you grow up? It's a question students hear throughout their school years. At Gentry Public Schools, helping them find the answer is more than a conversation. It's an ongoing commitment that begins well before graduation.
Gentry High School hosted its fall College and Career Fair this week, bringing together more than 700 students in grades 8-12 with representatives from more than 40 colleges, universities, technical schools, career programs, military branches, businesses and community organizations. The event gave students an opportunity to explore possibilities, ask questions and begin making connections with people who can help them take their next steps after high school.
The opportunities represented at the fair reflected an important part of Gentry's approach to education: preparing students not just to graduate, but to build productive, fulfilling lives beyond the classroom, said Gentry High School Principal Justin Blanchard.
For some students, that may mean pursuing a four-year degree. For others, it may mean attending a community college or technical school, learning a skilled trade, serving in the military or moving directly into the workforce. Each path offers opportunities to develop skills, earn a living, contribute to the community and build a future for themselves and their families.
"Our Career Coaches have grown our College and Career Fair into an event where students have the opportunity to speak with a wide range of prospective colleges, college prep programs, trade schools and industry partners," Blanchard said. "We had representatives from more than 40 partners this year, and I loved seeing our students interact with them and have genuine conversations.
"We bring all students in grades 8-12 to the fair because each grade level needs to have different types of conversations," he continued. "A younger student may have questions related to their interests, while an older student may be talking about the likelihood of attending a particular college or working for a particular employer."
Those conversations are an important part of a broader effort at Gentry to help students make informed decisions about their futures. The district's full-time career coaches work with students throughout their educational experience, providing individualized attention, guidance and resources as students begin identifying their interests, exploring career possibilities and planning for life after high school.
That ongoing relationship matters, Blanchard said. A single event can introduce students to opportunities they may not have considered, but consistent guidance helps them understand what it takes to pursue those opportunities. It gives them someone to turn to with questions, someone who can help them navigate their options and someone who can connect their interests today with possibilities for tomorrow.
The College and Career Fair puts those connections within reach. Students talked directly with college representatives about academic programs and admissions, learned about technical training and career preparation, explored employment opportunities with area businesses and heard about paths to service through the military. Just as importantly, they began building relationships and gaining a better understanding of what those paths look like in the real world.
The event included representatives from:
Colleges, Universities and Higher Education: University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, University of Central Arkansas, Harding University, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Missouri Southern State University, Southern Arkansas University, John Brown University, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Pittsburg State University, Arkansas State University, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Crowder College, North Arkansas College, Brightwater and the University of Arkansas Food Science.
Technical Education and Career Training: Northwest Technical Institute (NWTI), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Lincoln Tech, Career Academy of Hair Design and BIT.
Military and Public Service: U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, U.S. Army, Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas State Police and Gentry Fire Department.
Business and Industry Partners: Carroll Electric, McKee Foods, Brittenum Construction, Arnold & Blevins Electrical Northwest, Marcy's Grooming, Crossland Construction, Kimbel, Flintco, Ozarks Community Hospital and Simmons Foods.
For Gentry, the purpose of these efforts extends beyond helping students decide what to do immediately after graduation, according to Mark Scott, Director of Community Engagement at Gentry Public Schools. It's about giving them the knowledge, relationships and confidence to make decisions that will shape their lives for years to come.
Students deserve the opportunity to discover what interests them, understand what opportunities are available and see a future in which they can do meaningful work, support themselves and their families, and make a positive contribution to the communities where they live.
The College and Career Fair is one more way Gentry Public Schools is working to make sure students have the support and preparation to do exactly that,, Scott said.