College fair offers students glance at numerous schools

Walsh University was one of almost 70 schools represented at the Coshocton Kiwanis Club / Coshocton C.A.R.E.S. College Fair Night held Oct. 17 at the Coshocton County Career Center. Josie Sellers | Beacon

COSHOCTON – Blayden McCoy may only be a sophomore, but he’s already making plans for his future.

McCoy was one of several students who attended a packed Coshocton Kiwanis Club / Coshocton C.A.R.E.S. College Fair Night held Oct. 17 at the Coshocton County Career Center.

“I wanted to check out what’s out there and see the programs different schools have,” said the Ridgewood High School student.

His grandmother Lori Cabot attended the fair with him.

“Since he’s a sophomore this gives him a quick glance of what’s out there and then maybe he can narrow it down to his top 10 for his junior year and then top five or so for his senior year,” she said.

Brian Crilow, director of Coshocton C.A.R.E.S. said he believed there were close to 70 schools at this year’s fair. One of those was the University of Rio Grande, which was represented by Austin Wilson.

“This gives students the opportunity to see schools in different areas of Ohio,” he said. “There might be one here that they’ve never seen or heard of that could be the perfect fit for them.”

In addition to representatives from colleges and universities, there also were folks from technical schools, trade schools and military recruiters for students to speak with.

“We like to bring everyone here because we are in a rural area and it’s hard for parents to get kids to some of these different schools,” Crilow said. “This gives them the chance to collect information and then schedule visits for the schools they are most interested in.”

He appreciates the time the admissions counselors and recruiters spend at the fair and the Coshocton Kiwanis Club donating to the event.

“They (the Kiwanis Club) help a great deal with this by giving me flexibility in my spending,” Crilow said. “If you treat people right they will keep coming back and a lot of admissions counselors say this is their favorite fair to come to.”

Rene Shaw and Christie Cutlip were thankful Coshocton C.A.R.E.S. organized the fair and found a lot of information there for their sons who are both juniors at Ridgewood High School.

“This is a good way to really get them ready for next year,” Cutlip said.

Her son Ricky Workman wants to do something with computers and Shaw’s son Gauge wants to go into radiology.

“There were a lot of different colleges here to choose from,” Workman.

Coshocton C.A.R.E.S. is a proud partner agency of United Way of Coshocton County.

Category: Clubs & Organizations