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Students explore career options at Cambria County college fair

Penn Highlands hosts annual Cambria college fair

By Colette Costlow 4 min read

JOHNSTOWN -- With graduation on the horizon, about 600 high school and college students considered different careers at the 24th annual Cambria County college fair.

Junior student Kendall Korhut of Conemaugh Township Area School District is benefiting from talking with school representatives in person rather than emailing.

"It's so easy to walk up to someone," she said.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Admissions Counselor Mady Oliver said, on Tuesday, 73 colleges and employers set up a table inside their gym, where many young students were seen having conversations with recruiters.

"Definitely very packed and very busy but an awesome turnout," she said.

While most colleges at Tuesday's event were based in Pennsylvania, she said some representatives were from neighboring states such as Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. Trade schools such as the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center and a representative from the Army reserves were also present.

For current Penn Highlands students looking to earn a bachelor's degree, she said they can consider different paths with many of the colleges represented at the fair.

While many high school kids are "forced" to attend events like this, it's beneficial to get their name out there and meet school and business representatives.

"I talked to a student this morning who said he had no idea that so many colleges had a major he was interested in," she said. "It is the perfect opportunity for students to come and explore and start thinking about it."

Josh Trenum, Frostburg State University assistant director of admissions, said students are currently gravitating toward majors such as exercise science, business, nursing, psychology and recreation sports management.

"I ask what (the students') interests are, what they're looking for in a school, and I tailor the conversation around that," he said.

Trenum said that Frostburg, which currently operates in Maryland, will start offering Pennsylvanians in-state tuition in fall 2027.

"We're in close proximity to this area, but we honestly have a lot of connections with Pennsylvania and West Virginia," he said. "We serve as a regional campus rather than a Maryland state school."

Renewal by Anderson Western Pennsylvania market manager Demetrice Bowman said she told a few students to consider applying for a job after graduation.

"You never know," she said. "I may have made a connection."

Many students who walked by only took her company's pens, she said with a laugh, but she was happy to give them something to take with them.

"What if these kids made a connection here? What if they actually saw something at one of the tables, and it's something that really stuck in their head, and they decided that 'I'm going to strive for this,' and they actually do it?" she said.

She said she was very appreciative of the people who coordinated the event, as she hopes someone started down a pathway that will change their lives.

Scholarships were on the mind of Conemaugh Township Area senior student Becky Buchan, who is currently considering athletic training at the University of Pittsburgh. She said she was interested in the scholarships offered at the fair and the application process.

She said it's important for students like her to apply for scholarships now "to be assured that you can have funding."

Her friends Gwen Masser, 16, and Ava Schellhammer, 17, were also excited to consider different colleges and career paths at Tuesday's fair.

"I came here having at least two schools in mind I wanted to talk to, and it was nice to have a connection with them that I wouldn't have had if I didn't come," Masser said.

Mentioning her interest in wildlife biology and zoology, she said being at a college fair gives her an idea of what colleges offer for her major.

Schellhammer, who wants to study political science, said college fairs also help her identify possible internship opportunities.

"Everyone is so welcoming and open to hearing everything you have to say and being supportive of what you want to do," she said. "It's very nice to hear reassurance as well."

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.

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