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Students getting a chance to interact with equipment at the Chilton County Schools College & Career Fair. (WENDY FORTNER | CONTRIBUTED)

Five branches of the military were present at the fair to interact with students. (WENDY FORTNER | CONTRIBUTED)

Students speak with a Jacksonville State University recruiter at the fair. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Students were able to speak with over 30 companies that were in attendance on Sept. 17. (WENDY FORTNER | CONTRIBUTED)

Thirty colleges, universities and trade schools were at the fair, including Mississippi State University. (WENDY FORTNER | CONTRIBUTED)

Recruiters from the United States Navy speaking with interested students. (WENDY FORTNER | CONTRIBUTED)

A Troy University recruiter pitches the school to a CCS student. (WENDY FORTNER | CONTRIBUTED)

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Chilton County Schools hosted its biannual college and career fair on Sept. 17, and hundreds of students were able to explore opportunities after high school. Held at Jefferson State Community College Chilton-Clanton Campus, the event was hosted by CCS career coaches Wendy Fortner, Sjohna Hughes and Michelle McRae who put on the event twice a year to help students find their niche.

This installment of the fair included over 30 businesses from around Alabama, 30 colleges, universities and trade school institutions and five branches of the military. Tables filled the room at Jefferson State and hundreds of junior and senior CCS students came through to see the opportunities that await them.

One of those companies, Thompson CAT, was present at the fair with recruiter Sonya Sherer. Sherer has a deep background in education before her time with CAT, and that gave her a firsthand look at the struggles that students can have if they do not know what is out there available to them.

“I was a high school teacher for 30 years before I came into this role, and I worked with students to make their plans for the future,” Sherer said. “But if you do not have an industry that supports them, then they do not know what they do not know.”

Sherer said the biggest reason companies like CAT come out to the fair each year is to let the students know what is out there, which can greatly benefit them when making a choice about what path to take following high school graduation.

“The kids are smart, even though they do not want to go to college, they are still very smart,” Sherer said. “They just need to show where they can use their brains best. Especially in our industry with the trades, that is a great opportunity for someone that likes working with their hands.”

The CCS career coaches thanked the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce, Coca-Cola, First Bank of Alabama and Martin Funeral Home for sponsoring the hospitality room for the fair.

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