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Colleges and universities sponsor fair in Youngstown
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The lobby of 20 Federal Place in downtown Youngstown was the scene for a college fair to attract students and inform them about education opportunities. Dawn Douglas and Shaclecha Stoddard visited the ETI Technical College table on Thursday staff ed by Charlotte Stahl, far left, and Kathy Christi.
By CHRIS COTELESSE
TheNewsOutlet.org
YOUNGSTOWN
More than 20 universities, community colleges and other educational organizations set up information tables in the lobby of 20 Federal Place to attract potential students.
Jerry Costa, a freelance event consultant who organized Thursday’s college fair, said he wanted to connect local residents with opportunities for education.
“The purpose of this event is to give folks an opportunity to come down at one time and visit all these colleges,” he said.
Eastern Gateway Community College used to have a weekly table in the lobby, but Costa said the fair was the first event to draw so many different schools.
The event is part of Costa’s goals to promote downtown Youngstown and support the tenants of 20 Federal Place. He hopes to have one or two fairs in the building per month, including a small-business fair, a health fair and a nonprofit fair Sept. 11.
These events will promote the organizations involved and bring business downtown.
“There’s going to be traffic around here. Hopefully, they’ll stop and get some of this information,” Costa said.
Tiffany Steward visited the fair to expand her employment opportunities.
“I need a career, so I need an education,” she said.
She visited EGCC’s table and learned about a communications program that would allow her to talk to people while solving problems with critical thinking.
She would like to find a career that’s not the average job in Youngstown. Making her rounds to different tables made her aware of more opportunities than she thought were available.
“When I was young, I didn’t think that a job using my creative mind was attainable,” she said.
The NewsOutlet is a joint media venture by student and professional journalists and is a collaboration of Youngstown State University, WYSU Radio and The Vindicator.