More than 800 high school students, consisting of about 45 students from Tamaqua's

Y.E.S. (Your Employability Skills) program and other Schuylkill County school districts spent a recent school day touring a broad spectrum of over 30 employment and college vendors during the 4th annual Schuylkill County Career Fair held at the Martz Hall in Pottsville. The fair, coordinated by the Northeast PA Manufacturers and Employers Council Inc. (MAEC), consisted of both inside and outside vendor displays. A popular attraction for students was PPL's electric car, which was on display outside as a way to exemplify the future of electric transportation and related careers."The fair helps facilitate a better educated and future workforce," said Darlene J. Robbins, President, MAEC. "it also exemplifies the relationship between business and government."Not sure what she will do after she earns a business management degree, senior Rae Alexi Darker, 19, talked with friends about their futures while visiting each vendor. She added that the fair provides a lot of useful information for students looking to join the local job market.Tawnie Gerber, 18, who plans on attending LCCC and Bloomsburg for radiology, stated that the fair is a great asset for students to inquire about their future.Nick Toth, 17, a Tamaqua senior, who stated he is good working with his hands and plans on majoring in HVAC at Penn Tech, said he received alot of informative literature during the fair."I like helping people," said Rebecca Akins, a Tamaqua junior. Akins added that she wants to continue helping people and plans on majoring in psychology at LCCC.Some of the 30 vendors consisted of Air Products, Boyers Food Market, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Wal-Mart Logistics, Mrs. T's, Highwood USA, as well as other careers revolving around financial, business, general labor, construction, trade, machinists, law enforcement, government, military and non-profit careers.Of all the Tamaqua students interviewed during the fair, all stated their intentions of utilizing the Morgan Success Scholarships at the Lehigh Carbon Community College. In 2002, The John E. Morgan Charitable Trust II announced that it will fund Morgan Success Scholarships for qualified applicants. Each year, the Morgan Foundation sets aside funds that the Foundation anticipates will be sufficient to cover full tuition scholarships for the number of graduating Tamaqua Area High School seniors who attend LCCC, based upon historic and predicted attendance rates."Computers really interest me. I enjoy setting up networks and learning about related types of careers available," said Evan Mashack, 18, a Tamaqua senior who plans on attending LCCC and Penn College for network administration."Tamaqua's

Y.E.S. program impacts the students through better understanding of business and industry," said Lori Kane, Kelayres, Community Relations with MCCann School of Business.Joseph Schwartz, admission representative, LCCC, stressed the opportunity provided by the Morgan Success Scholarship and STEM $600,000 scholarship to LCCC to promote science, technology, engineering and math degrees.Representatives with the Pennsylvania CareerLink of Schuylkill County and Schuylkill Vision were also on hand discussing other career avenues. For more information, stop by their office at 201-203 E. Arch Street in Pottsville or visit their website at

www.schuylkillvision.com or

www.cwds.state.pa.us