Southeastern Illinois College will host its second annual Soar & Explore College Fair on Wednesday, September 30 from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Joseph C. Deaton Gymnasium on the Harrisburg campus. The free event is open to local high school juniors and seniors and current college students.
“This will be the second year that SIC has hosted this event, and we had great feedback last year,” said SIC’s High School Recruiter and Dual Credit Coordinator, Nicole Racey, who organized the event. “This event is truly for any student interested in exploring their educational opportunities. We’ll have options ranging from CTE certificates to pathways for bachelor’s degrees.”
Approximately half of Deaton Gymnasium will feature SIC’s academic programs, competitive teams, and campus services. High school students can speak with faculty, staff and current students to learn more about the college’s certificate, associate degree and transfer programs as well as opportunities to get involved on campus.
“This is an exciting event that benefits two different groups of students,” said Dr. Kyla Burford, Executive Dean of Student Services. “In-district high school students receive information about programs, clubs and activities available at Southeastern, while current SIC students learn about transfer opportunities at four-year institutions.”
Academic programs represented at the fair will include Music, Psychology, STEM and Theatre, along with career and technical education programs in Criminal Justice, Cosmetology, Diesel Technology, Nursing, Outfitter Wildlife Management and Powersports Technology.
Competitive teams participating in the fair include the Claybreakers trap shooting team, Falcon Archers, Falcon FoG Esports, and Forensic Falcons speech team.
Students can also connect with campus services, including Enrollment Services, the Peer Student Support Team, and The Learning Commons. Enrollment Services will provide current SIC students with free copies of their transcripts, and students can register for a chance to win a door prize during the fair.
The other half of the gym will feature representatives from four-year universities. High school juniors and seniors can gather information about freshman admissions, while current SIC students can learn about transfer opportunities after graduation. Representatives will be available to answer questions about admissions, academic programs, and their institutions.
Participating universities include the University of Illinois Springfield, University of Evansville, Eastern Illinois University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Franklin University, Murray State University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, University of Kentucky College of Engineering-Paducah, McKendree University, University of Southern Indiana and Missouri University of Science and Technology.
“Something important to remember is that the sky’s not the limit when you are a Falcon,” Racey said. “Students can soar on over and discover the right fit for their future.”
The Soar & Explore College Fair is free, and no registration is required. For more information, email recruiters@sic.edu or call (618) 252-5400, ext. 2536.
