How about college?

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Maricopa Wells Middle School students had the opportunity to get a jump on thinking about college Thursday during their 2nd Annual College Fair.

“It’s never too early or too late to plan for your future,” said Donna Wittwer, the school’s counselor and organizer of the event, which focused on Arizona’s higher education options.

About 150 students and their parents attended the fair from 4:30-6 p.m. in the school’s multi-purpose room. They were able to speak with representatives from Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Central Arizona College, Grand Canyon University, Eastern Arizona College and the Arizona Culinary Institute.

Representatives shared information on degree programs, admission requirements and financial aid opportunities.

Students were given scavenger hunt forms to help them ask questions of the various college representatives. Wittwer explained that all of the schools that attended liked this approach because it prompted student-representative dialogue. The NAU representative told Wittwer that other middle school college nights they have attended were less engaging because the students didn’t know what questions to ask.

After speaking with the various representatives, Maricopa Wells students offered their assessments of the college fair.

“It’s a good way to narrow down our choices,” said eighth grade student Rachael Sanchez.

“I never really thought about college, but this is a good way to get us thinking about it with them (the college representatives) here,” added Alexis Estrada, also an eighth grader.

Photo by Joyce Hollis