Though the school year is winding down, one event at NASH is just getting started.

On Wednesday, May 31st, NASH will host a post-secondary fair for 10th and 11th graders. Beginning at 9am in the gymnasium, the event is expected to include over 100 representatives. It will be the very first post-secondary fair to happen at North Allegheny.

“The idea of having a post-secondary fair at the end of the year was something we all were interested in pursuing because we wanted our students to have face time with representatives from all types of post high school options before summer,” Mrs. Rhonda Bielawski, a guidance counselor at NASH, said. “It was our hope that they would get excited about their future planning as they head into summer.”

Bielawski added, “I think students will like that the fair provides the opportunity to have face to face conversations about their unique individual interests with a variety of post high school options. We will have over 100 representatives from unions, military, trade school and colleges coming to the fair to meet our students.”

Since this is the first year that the post secondary fair has happened, students are excited and curious about what it will be like. 

“I am really excited to be able to talk to the colleges I am interested in and learn more about them,” Faith Boring, a junior at NASH, said. “I looked ahead at the list of colleges, and all of my top choices will be there.”

Annie Wiethorn, a junior at NASH, stated, “I am excited to just be able to walk around and learn about all the colleges. I am hoping that this fair helps me more in figuring out which colleges I like the best.”

Not only are students looking forward to this opportunity, but the guidance counselors are as well.

“I am excited to watch our students have meaningful conversations with the representatives to help them with their future planning. I am also looking forward to talking with students after the fair to hear what they learned and what excited them,” Bielawski said. She added, “I am hopeful that students will talk with representatives from institutions they don’t know much about. Too often students only are interested in schools they have heard of before, but there are so many hidden gems out there that may not have the name recognition but have excellent programs.”

But why hold the fair during the last week of the school year? 

“We wanted to make the last week of school more meaningful for our juniors, so we thought it would be exciting for them to meet with representatives to help them learn more about possible future pathways as they head into summer,” Bielawski added.

In all, this exciting opportunity is expected to aid in opening more doors for 10th and 11th grade students who are eager to plan their futures after high school.