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EMT services provided students with information. Photo by Christina Parodi

Army recruiters were among Career Fair participants. Photo by Christina Parodi

Students meet with a Career Fair participant. Photo by Christina Parodi

Career Fair participants included emergency medical personnel. Photo by Christina Parodi

A recruiter from the Marines answers students' questions. Photo by Christina Parodi

Businesses and vocational schools were represented at the Career Fair. Photo by Christina Parodi

Adam Effertz of Big Brothers Big Sisters addresses students at a pep rally the day before the Career Fair. Photo by Margarita Rentis

The 2013 Career Fair was held Feb. 4 in the school gym. Photo by Christina Parodi

A student speaks with a Career Fair participant. Photo by Christina Parodi

Students check out an exhibitor's table at Career Fair. Photo by Christina Parodi

The Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) of Coral Gables Senior High School hosted its second annual Career Fair in the school gymnasium on Thursday, Feb. 7.

The Career Fair offered students who will not be attending a four-year institution after high school the opportunity to explore other post-secondary job and education options. Representatives from different companies and colleges set up tables in the gym and offered students information about their organizations.

Exhibitors included the Coral Gables Police Department, the U.S. military, vocational and technical colleges, culinary institutes, local employers, a massage certification program and a self-defense instructional course.

“It’s very varied, and that’s the whole point — to get students to be interested. They need a direction and some goals, so this would introduce them to what’s in the community, ” said PTSA Vice President Gail Poe-Liu.

PTSA members visited a list of targeted classes (made by Assistant Principal Nestor Diaz) to inform students about the Career Fair. Select students were invited to the Career Fair, while others received passes in the three days prior to the event. The Career Fair was geared toward juniors and seniors.

On Feb. 6, a Career Fair pep rally was held in the auditorium. Over 500 invited students listened to motivational speakers Adam Effertz, community partnerships director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami, and Alex Monivis, chief operations officer of the Urgent Response Training Institute, tell their stories.

Brooke Donner is a sophomore at Coral Gables Senior High School and news editor of the student newspaper highlights.