Sonoma County students to sharpen skills at College and Career Day

More than 4,000 students from around Sonoma County are expected to gather Friday in Santa Rosa to research and prepare for their lives after high school.

The College and Career Day is sponsored and organized by the Santa Rosa City Schools District, which will transport fifth, eighth and 11th grade students to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds’ main indoor exhibit hall. The event is free.

Representatives from colleges and other post-high school institutions, businesses and professional organizations will be present. Students will also be able to attend workshops on money management, interview skills and professional etiquette.

One of the most popular offerings is mock interviews, said Elizabeth Evans, the school district’s coordinator of curriculum and instruction for seventh and eight-graders.

“The kids just loved that because they had the opportunity to practice going through a job interview,” Evans said. “Different professionals from the community volunteer to spend an hour doing the interviews ... some provide gentle feedback which is really useful. We had kids lined up last year.”

The events opens at 8:30 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. for students. Afterward, it opens to the public, and additional workshops will be offered, including on financial aid and higher-education options for undocumented students.

On Saturday, a follow-up showcase will open from ?11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for community members interested in learning about the school district.

For more information, go to www.srcs.K12.ca.us.