More than 500 high school seniors had an opportunity to talk to college and industry representatives from across the state Wednesday at LeCroy Career Technical Center’s annual College and Career Fair.

The event was held in the exhibition hall of the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center to accommodate tables manned by representatives from more than 50 colleges and universities, local industries and branches of the United States military.

“This college-industry day is a good experience for these high school seniors,” Chilton County Industrial Development Coordinator Fred Crawford said. “It opens their eyes to choices in life that they will be making very shortly.”

Jemison High School seniors Carley Pate, Jessica Broussard and Macey Thompson said the event was helpful even though they already have a good idea of what they want to do after high school.

“I learned a lot,” Broussard said. “I went around everything twice.”

Pate said gathering information from representatives in person was easier than looking online.

“I think this is much easier because you have somebody to talk to, and you can ask questions and get a direct answer,” Pate said.

“If you think of something you forgot to ask, you can just walk back over there,” Thompson said.

Colleges and universities that participated in this year’s event included the University of Montevallo, Jefferson State Community College, the University of Alabama, Auburn University, Samford University, Shelton State Community College, the University of Mobile and Wallace Community College in Selma.

Shirley Laister, instructor of cosmetology at Wallace Community College, said representatives from the school attend the event every year.

“We look forward to it every year,” Laister said. “I’m an alumni of a Chilton County school. I’m grateful to be able to come back as an instructor to recruit for the college I am at now.”

Laister said nearly 30 students expressed interest to her about the cosmetology program at WCCS, along with the masonry, electricity and graphic design programs.

Among the industries present were Tenaska Power Services Company and Johnson Controls Inc.

Bill Buster, plant engineer at Tenaska’s Lindsay Hill plant, said he tried to convey to students that the energy company employs people with and without college degrees.

“You don’t necessarily have to go to college,” Buster said. “We’re just trying to give them a sense of direction if they don’t know what to do. There are well-paying jobs out there for students that are willing to work.”

Buster used a power plant model to demonstrate the inner workings of Tenaska’s plants and how they generate electricity.

“We use natural gas and gas turbines at our plant,” Buster said. “It’s a visual to give students an idea of what we do every day.”

CPAC Director Christine Brown said the college and career fair is a positive event for all involved.

“We definitely enjoy putting on these things for our community, our schools and our kids,” Brown said. “It’s a great event, and we hope it continues to grow every year.”