Northshore School District will host the 2024 Virtual College & Career Fair on Thursday, February 8, 2024. This event will provide Northshore families with valuable information to help plan and navigate post high school options. All sessions will be recorded using Zoom and Language interpretation is available through YouTube. Sessions will be posted by the end of February 2024.

 

Getting Started: Navigating our Virtual Event

Please watch this short video to help you prepare for the evening.

Session links can be found below.

College & University Sessions

Financial Aid Workshop for Senior Students and Parents

Myles Cabanos, Student Financial Services, Cascadia College

If you think you can’t afford college, think again! Come learn the basics of financial aid programs, planning, and qualifications for both 4-year and 2-year colleges.

DigiPen Institute of Technology: Do What You Love, Love What You Do

Michelle Cooper, Ed.D., Director of Outreach, DigiPen Institute of Technology

DigiPen prepares students for a wide range of careers — doing the kind of work that challenges the mind and excites the imagination. DigiPen is a private 4-year college in Redmond, WA that specializes in computer science, game design, digital art and animation as well as music and audio. Come learn more about DigiPen’s eight undergraduate degrees, the application process, student projects and more!

The Highly Selective College Application Process

Mandy Hart, Deputy Director of Admissions, Washington University in St. Louis

Learn about the process of applying to highly selective colleges and universities including strategies, tips and timelines that will help you along the way.

College Admissions Representative Panel

Sarah Faulk, Regional Admissions & Recruitment Manager, San Diego State University; Riley Ballard, Assistant Director of Admissions, University of Idaho; Joe Johnson, Associate Director of Admissions, Lawrence University

Do you have questions about the college application process? College admissions counselors are responsible for evaluating college applications. Get answers to your college application questions from the experts.

Guaranteed Admissions Program (GAP)

Gracie Grossman, Admissions Counselor,
Washington State University

What you should know about the Guaranteed Admissions Program (GAP) in Washington. The following schools participate in the program: Washington State University, Western Washington University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, University of Washington Tacoma & Evergreen College.

Historically Black Colleges & Universities

Lamonte Vaughn, Head Track and Field Coach, Grambling State University

This session will highlight why a Historically Black College or University might be the perfect fit for you. It will cover important information about the admissions process as well as scholarship opportunities for HBCU-bound students.

Do you want to be an NCAA/college athlete?

BJ Dawson, Career and College Readiness Counselor, Bothell High School

Eligibility and a changing NCAA. The transfer portal, NLI, and the various impacts it’s had on today’s student athlete.

Finding the Right Fit

Alexandra (Alex) Slaughter, Regional Advisor Undergraduate Recruitment & Outreach, Texas A & M

Strategies to discover colleges that match a student’s profile and interests will be discussed. Defining student priorities and interests is an important first step in finding colleges that “fit.”

All About Pacific Northwest College of Art

Rebecca Giordana, Assistant Director of Admissions, Pacific Northwest College of Arts

Learn about the Pacific Northwest College of Art's (PNCA) programs, application process, and resources available to students. PNCA is an AICAD nonprofit art school that offers 10 BFA majors in: Illustration, Painting, Printmaking, General Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Sculpture, Animated Arts, Photography, Intermedia, and Creative Writing. We also offer 10 minors in: Art + Ecology, Art History, Game, Fashion, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Creative Writing, Drawing, Photography, and Stop-Motion Animation.

Presenting Yourself on the UC Application

Maritza Gonzalez, Associate Director, Admissons & Recruitment UC Davis

Tips and guidelines for freshman applicants to UC that will help you put your best foot forward and ensure your UC application information is complete, accurate and dazzling.

Putting Yourself on Paper: Writing the College Essay

Becky Stockton, Assistant Director of Admissions, Gonzaga University

The college essay can be a critical part of the college application. Strategies to respond to essay prompts will be reviewed as well as ways to avoid mistakes and how to choose a topic that is appropriate for the essay.

Canadian Colleges: Application Process & Opportunities in Canada

Lydia Palmer, Manager International Student Recruitment, University of Toronto

Universities in Canada offer a wide variety of programs. In this session you will learn about the application process, trends in admissions practices, new program offerings.

How the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Makes Going Out of State Affordable

Palmer Muntz, Senior Regional Admissions Counselor, University of Alaska Fairbanks

What is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), what schools participate and how does it work?

College Application Process for Public Universities in the State of Washington

Amie Kennedy, Admissions Counselor, Central Washington University

Public universities in Washington offer a wide variety of programs. In this session you will learn about admissions practices in Washington.

Career Exploration Sessions

Preparing for Employment: Resume/Cover Letter/Interview Skills

Doug Evans, Business Outreach Specialist, Edmonds College

Learn what skills employers are looking for and how to frame even limited experience as skills employers need. This session will cover resume and cover letter writing and how to prepare for a job interview.

WorkSource Services

Mary Dolliver, Employment Security Department Supervisor, WorkSource Redmond

Explore the programs and resources available at WorkSource Redmond. Learn how to search for jobs, build a resume and interview.

Crafting Futures: Nurturing Talents through Apprenticeship

Joe Baca, Community Workforce Agreement Administrator, King County; Ellrol Gartrell, Apprenticeship Coordinator, King County

Join us for an enlightening Apprenticeship Presentation where we delve into the transformative journey of skill development and mentorship. Discover the power of hands-on learning, the art of passing down knowledge, and the impact of apprenticeships on shaping the future workforce. Whether you're an aspiring apprentice or an industry enthusiast, this presentation promises insights into a dynamic learning experience that bridges the gap between tradition and innovation. Uncover the secrets of success through mentorship and skill mastery as we explore the pathway to excellence through Apprenticeship opportunities.

Military Options in College Education/ROTC

Sergeant First Class James Wolfe, Washington Army National Guard; Miciah Ruff, Seattle University Army ROTC

Learn about joining the National Guard and/or ROTC programs. This session will go over the commitment of joining the National Guard as well as the educational and scholarship benefits. Want to join the National Guard AND go to college at the same time? The Simultaneous Membership Program will allow you to do that. Join this session for more details!

Boeing: Shape Aerospace Innovation

Jeff Hill, Dedicated Hiring Manager, Boeing

Do you enjoy working on cars, robotics, woodwork or other related projects? Do you enjoy assembling and building or simply learning about hands-on technical skills? Boeing Commercial Airlines has entry-level opportunities in several areas of the airplane production system. Learn about the skills we look for and how you can begin your career in aerospace!

Advanced Manufacturing Skills Center (AMSC)/Washington AerospaceTraining and Research (WATR) Programs

James Werth, Marketing Manager, Advanced Manufacturing Skills Center

Edmonds College FastTrack Training Programs – Career pathways in construction, aerospace manufacturing, and more in just 10- to 12-weeks.

Transfer, Tech, and Two-year Programs

Will Smith, Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator, Lake Washington Institute of Technology; Matt Allen, M.Ed. Outreach and Recruitment Specialist, Edmonds College

Starting your college career at a community or technical college can be a great plan. Our community and technical colleges offer strong programs, several 4-year degrees and preparation for transferring to four-year universities. Come learn from two of our local colleges.

Careers in Commercial Real Estate

Cori Taniguchi, Director of Operations for BOMA Seattle King County; Chrystal Montes, Property Manager for CIM Group; Aaron Mitchell, Assistant Chief Engineer for Wright Runstad and Company; Kyle Hepper, Business Development Manager for Abbott Construction

Learn about the different career paths in Commercial Real Estate. Hear from a Property Manager, a Building Engineer and a Construction Manager about entry level positions, growth opportunities and day to day work life within these tracks of the industry. All tracks include entry level positions with qualifications ranging from High School Diploma to High level college degree.

Pre-Recorded Sessions

How College Decisions Are Made

Mariesa Negosanti, Assistant Director of Admission, DePaul University

Learn how the college admissions process works and what students can do to improve their chances of being admitted.

College Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Bryan Fauth, Director of Accessibility & Student Support Services, Cascadia College

This session is perfect for families with students on an IEP, 504, and/or students who have learning differences. Come learn about what academic supports are available to students and how to access them at the college level.

Closing Survey

At the end of the event, please fill out our closing survey to provide us feedback.

We will use this information to improve our event for next school year. 

bit.ly/nsdvccn24