FWPS scholars explore Life After High School College and Career Fair

Nearly 1,000 individuals poured into the FWPS Life After High School College and Career Fair, an annual event to promote college and career readiness.

Federal Way, Wash. — On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) hosted its annual Life After High School College and Career Fair at Federal Way High School continuing its commitment to ensuring scholars are college and career ready.

The fair, designed for middle and high school scholars, has traditionally drawn hundreds of attendees, and this week’s event was no different with almost 1,000 individuals in attendance. Scholars and their families were able to connect with representatives from over 50 post-secondary institutions including 2- and 4-year colleges and universities, apprenticeships, trade schools, military, and other options to pursue following high school graduation. To keep track of the abundant options, students were encouraged to use their event programs to mark possible college and career options for later reference.

Several workshops were also available to help scholars prepare for and pursue post-secondary education. Some of this year’s workshops included Get Money for College, How to Apply for College Using the Common App, How to Earn College Credit in High School Through CTE, Private Colleges are Affordable, and more. The event also featured panels for scholars to learn more about working in the trades and the Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCUs) experience. Finally, students and families were invited to participate in an open lab for support with the High School and Beyond Plan, which is a required plan to guide students toward high school graduation. Seniors were also encouraged to create their Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID to prepare to complete the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which will be released in December.

“I came to Life After High School to gain knowledge about my opportunities and what I have in store,” said Adonezer, a ninth-grade student at Decatur. He also learned that he could take Highline courses in high school to earn college credits in advance.

Nia, a high school scholar shared about her experience saying, “I learned that there's more to just what I know, and I could learn more than I ever thought I could succeed more in life.”

FWPS parent Julia talked about the amount of valuable information available, sharing, “My teen appreciated all the different options.”

“Life After High School is a powerful event for scholars just starting to identify their interests as well as those who know exactly which path they want to pursue after graduation. There are so many entry points available, from learning about possible careers, to narrowing down post-secondary institution choices, and getting guidance and support around the application process,” shared Superintendent Dr. Dani Pfeiffer.

She continued, “This evening, I watched middle and high school scholars make connections with professionals and gain college and career knowledge that will propel them toward a bright future. There are many options that lead to success, and it is our job to create awareness among our students about the opportunities available to them. With consistent exposure throughout the school year, our scholars can graduate high school prepared and ready to take their next steps to achieve their college and career goals.”

Life After High School is in direct support of the FWPS district strategic plan Goal 5, Persistence to Graduation: High School Graduation through Successful Transitions. The goal states that every scholar will successfully navigate the critical transitions in their schooling, and will graduate from high school ready for college, career, and postsecondary experiences.