More than 600 high school students, including many from Henrico County Public Schools, attended the fourth annual William Bill Parker HBCU College and Career Fair at St. Paul’s Baptist Church on Tuesday.
Students spent time speaking with admissions officers from more than 20 historically Black colleges and universities, as well as representatives from trade schools and from the military. Representatives from companies and government offices were also present to speak about career options.
“It’s been a really nice experience,” said Aiya Kendall, a Highland Springs junior. Aiya said she dropped by the booths for her top-choice schools: Howard University, Hampton University and Virginia State University.
“I want to go for the community,” she said about her plan to attend an HBCU. “That makes a good college experience.”
Gavin White, also a junior at Highland Springs, said he still hasn’t decided whether to attend college or go to a trade school. He was glad to see representatives for both paths he is considering.
“It was a great opportunity to network,” Gavin said.
In addition to the college and career booths, students also tested out virtual reality technology, enjoyed watching a robot dog perform tricks and participated in raffle drawings. Some students also stopped to fill out voter registration forms on their way in.
Jen Darsie, a counselor at Varina High School, attended the event with some of her students.
“We chose to bring our seniors who still haven’t decided what they’re doing after high school,” she said. Darsie said Varina has a goal of making sure 100% of students graduate with a plan.
The event is hosted by the Phi Phi and Upsilon Nu Chapters of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Organizers said the fair has grown each year and stands out from similar events because of its focus on community. Louis Simmons, one of the organizers, said members of the Phi Phi and Upsilon Nu chapters serve the Richmond area. Many are coaches and educators who are invested in the students in the area.
“We’ve seen a lot of these students grow up, and so it’s to our interest to make sure that those students are successful,” Simmons said.
