The annual College and Career Fair is an opportunity for seniors to gather information about possibilities for them beyond high school.

Event organizers also hope that local business leaders realize it is an opportunity for them to meet potential new employees.

The College and Career Fair, which is hosted by LeCroy Career Technical Center, will be held from 8-11:30 a.m. Sept. 9 at the Clanton First United Methodist Church Helen E. Parrish Activity Center, which is located at 207 Eighth St. N. in Clanton.

All seniors at local high schools, about 600 of them, will have the chance to hear from representatives of about 30 colleges, several businesses and each branch of the military.

“It provides our high school seniors the chance to get information on opportunities in our area whether they are looking at continuing their education at a two- or four-year institution, entering the military or going directly into the world of work,” said Kim Benson, career coach for the school system. “We know many of our students attend school and work. Many times, they have limited information concerning our local job market. At the College and Career Fair, they will have the opportunity to meet representatives of some of our area’s largest employers and gain knowledge about these businesses.

“We want our students to enjoy their senior year and have all the information regarding the many options they have after graduation.”

Businesses represented at the fair will include Tenaska, Chilton Contractors, Foley Products, Elwood Staffing, KUMI and Alabama Power.

Benson and Donna Frazier, resource teacher at LeCroy, said they would like to see additional businesses represented at the event.

Anyone interested in attending should contact Benson at kdbenson@chilton.k12.al.us or call LeCroy Career Technical Center at (205) 280-2920.

The organizers thanked Chilton County Industrial Development Coordinator Fred Crawford and the Industrial Development Board for donating funds for refreshments in a hospitality room that will be set up for counselors and participants.

The event has been held in the past at Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center, but the facility wasn’t available for this year’s fair.

Because of a limit on space at the Activity Center, Frazier said students will go through the fair in shifts of about an hour to an hour and a half.

“They will have to make good use of their time,” she said.

Benson and Frazier said they were appreciative of CFUMC for allowing the event to be held at its facility.

Counselors from local schools will also attend, to network with college and industry representatives and update their contact information.

Colleges that should be represented at the fair include Jefferson State Community College, Wallace Community College Selma, University of Montevallo, University of Alabama Huntsville, Huntingdon, Jacksonville State, University of Alabama, Auburn University Montgomery, West Alabama, Auburn, Alabama A&M, Miles, Troy, North Alabama, UAB, Stillman, Alabama State, ITT Technical Institute, Tuskegee, Central Alabama Community College, Judson, Mississippi State, Marion Military Institute, Southeastern Bible College, UA Early College, University of Mobile, Samford, Johnson & Wales, Shelton State and Lawson State.

Some schools require their students to dress in professional attire, while at least one, Isabella, makes a full day of the event, taking seniors to lunch and Peach Park for ice cream after the fair.

Parents of local seniors are also invited to attend.

“It’s always a big event,” Frazier said.