Colleges, universities, other organizations attend college fair at Gainesville High School

Voleer Thomas
·4 min read

Alachua County high school students spoke with representatives from dozens of colleges, universities and other organizations during a recent college fair.

Students, families attend college fair

The students learned about the college admissions process, financial aid, scholarships and majors during the “2023 North Central Florida College Fair: Where Academics and Athletics Meet” held Saturday at Gainesville High School.

College fair reboots after hiatus due to COVID-19

“We wanted to reboot it and we have partnered with Alachua County Public Schools,” said Rodney Long, president of the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Florida who sponsored the event along with the Alachua County School District. “We want to rotate to every high school each year.”

The event, which has not been held in several years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, had previously been held at the King Center in northeast Gainesville.

College fair held to educate students and families

“We want them to start thinking about college and their future,” said Long, adding the King Commission has awarded over $500,000 to local high school seniors through its Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Fund. “We want them to understand there are opportunities out there. We want kids to think early about education.”

The college fair helps students figure out which route to take after high school is best for them, said Mike Powell, organizer of the event and founder of MP & Associates: Athletics, Academic and Scholarship Consulting.

“We are allowing students to have options and broaden their horizons and letting them know that anything is possible,” Powell said.

School district helps host college fair

Shane Andrew, superintendent of Alachua County Public Schools, said he and the school board were happy to collaborate to help students in the area.

“Every student has a different path, and we want to make sure we expose them to different opportunities,” Andrew said. “Every child’s journey is different, and we want to make sure they know what’s best for them.”

"Keeper of the Dream" recipient attends college fair

Makayla Flanders, this year’s 2023 Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Scholarship recipient, was tabling at the event talking to parents and students about her experience as a high school student in Alachua County.

“I’m blessed to tell them what they can learn and tell them my story,” Flanders said.

Flanders, an Eastside High School graduate, is majoring in nursing at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

“This is a good opportunity to expose kids to what’s out there,” Flanders said. “It is also good to see not only seniors here. This gives students a head start on their college careers.

Students and parents find college fair informative

Monica Gray, a senior at Newberry High School, said the event was highly informative.

“You can tell they put in a lot of work to give the students what they need,” Gray said.

She said her interests are business, nursing and psychology, and that she wants to attend FAMU.

“My main focus is to help others,” Gray said.

Kemesha Jones attended the event with her daughters Jada Lambert, a senior at Newberry High School, and A’Nylia Lambert, a junior at Newberry.

“I’m glad they did it on the day when there was no school because it is convenient for the parents,” Jones said. “It’s important to come to events like this.”

Jada Lambert said she wants to attend FAMU to major in biomedical engineering or pharmacy.

“I like how there’s every college from around North Central Florida here,” Lambert said. “We have the opportunity to talk to everyone.”

Education Equalizer: Foundation's inaugural HBCU college fair a huge success

Justyn Jenkins, a senior at GHS, said he appreciates the King Commission and school district hosting the event.

Boderick Johnson, left, president of the Alachua County chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association, speaks with, from left, mother Kemesha Jones and her two daughters, Jada Lambert and A'Nylia Lambert, during the “2023 North Central Florida College Fair: Where Academics and Athletics Meet” on Saturday at Gainesville High School. (Credit: Photo by Voleer Thomas, Correspondent)

“This is a good environment for the community and students,” Jenkins said. “This is good for us to come together and I’m glad they hosted the event for the young people.”

Jenkins said his goals are to attend Warner University in Lake Wales, and to be a good example people can look up to in life.

“I plan on being a role model for the community and make the world a better place,” Jenkins said. “Make sure to experience the opportunities in life and make the best of it when you come here (the college fair).”

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville High School site of college fair held Saturday