Bluejay SOAR Program Hosts Post-Secondary Fair

April 4, 2022

Bondurant-Farrar students in grades 8-11 recently participated in a post-secondary training fair, hosted on-site at the high school, in which over 34 organizations were in attendance. 

On March 9, our district welcomed representatives from a variety of apprenticeships, training schools, military branches, two year colleges, and four year colleges/universities who spoke directly with students about opportunities beyond high school graduation. For juniors who possibly had yet to participate in spring fairs and campus visits, this event was a chance to catch up on planning for life after graduation. For younger students, it was a chance to explore future training and education opportunities, and consider options they may not have otherwise been aware of.

The training fair was hosted by the district’s Bluejays SOAR program, which works to increase college and career readiness by connecting students and their coursework to local businesses and real-life learning opportunities. Made possible by funding from the STEM BEST Program, Bluejays SOAR works to bring teachers and industry professionals together to prepare students for careers in STEM-related fields. 

The work of the Bluejay SOAR program supports and is in alignment with the state’s Future Ready Iowa goal of 70% of Iowa’s workforce having education or training beyond high school by 2025. The mission of Future Ready Iowa is to connect Iowans to the education and training required for good paying jobs and careers to improve people's lives. By hosting this training fair, Bluejay SOAR created an opportunity for students to engage with prospective colleges and learn about potential career opportunities, a vital step in the post-secondary planning process.