On November 8, 2017, Lānaʻi will host its very own college and career fair at Lānaʻi High and Elementary School in Lānaʻi City. This is a unique and important opportunity for the students of Lānaʻi and their families, as well as island educators, to be able to have face-to-face conversations regarding educational and career opportunities. Costs associated with travel prohibit many families from being able to attend the college fairs held on other islands. The college and career fair will be held at the Lāna‘i High and Elementary School gymnasium.
This all-day event consists of three sessions which will engage the entire student body at Lānaʻi High and Elementary School. The day begins with two sessions of workshops for the older students in sixth through twelfth grades. Students will rotate through small group sessions in which presenters will give in-depth and hands-on overviews of their professions. The next portion of the day’s sessions will include the elementary student body, getting children aware of these opportunities at an early age. The last portion of the fair is an open fair session during which students will have the opportunity to walk around and visit with individual presenters, ask questions, and participate in short activities.
Natalie Misaki Ropa of the Lānaʻi High and Elementary School Foundation shares her own manaʻo on the 2017 college and career fair:
Lānaʻi High and Elementary School, LHES Foundation, UH Maui College and Pūlama Lānaʻi are excited to again be partnering this year to bring to LHES the annual College and Career Fair. The fair will consist of 60-80 presenters representing Colleges, Universities, Career pathways and programs all bringing resources from throughout the state to strengthen our students’ plan for their future.
The highlight of the event last year was the Coast Guard who landed their helicopter in the middle of the LHES campus and we were also fortunate to have Pashyn Santos who gave our students some insight into the entertainment and media pathways. This year we will bring Rayton Lamay, LHES Alumni and local celebrity, home to be a part of the College and Career Fair.
Immediately following the college and career fair, Lānaʻi will host the Native Hawaiian Scholarship ʻAha, at 5:30 p.m. in the Lānaʻi High and Elementary cafeteria. The Native Hawaiian Scholarship ʻAha is cosponsored by the University of Hawaiʻi, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schools, Pacific Financial Aid Association, UH Maui College Educational Opportunity Center, and the Native Hawaiian Education Association. More information on the other Native Hawaiian Scholarship ʻAha scheduled for 2017 can be found on the OHA website at https://www.oha.org/scholarships.
