October Career ChoICE expo connects students with work they can see

The announcement

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research lists the Career ChoICE Youth Expo for October 7–8, 2026, at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex, 19783 U.S. 29 in Chatham.

IALR describes the expo as a hands-on career exploration event connecting middle and high school students with regional industries. Its published calendar places the event between 9 a.m. on October 7 and 3 p.m. on October 8; that date range should not be read as uninterrupted overnight programming.

Students, families and educators can use the official program page to check participation arrangements. For the community archive, the lasting story will be the people and skills involved.

Specific school attendance, employers and participant achievements should be recorded from confirmed materials after the event.

Questions worth taking to an employer

A career event becomes more useful when students can picture the work behind a job title. Ask what an ordinary day involves, which skills are practiced most often and what education or training usually comes first.

Families can also ask about the difference between learning about a career and applying for a specific opportunity. An exhibit is not a job offer, and participation requirements may vary.

Educators and organizers are the right sources for transportation, registration and school arrangements.

After a visit, students can write down one role that interested them and one step they want to investigate next. Keeping that reflection turns a busy event into a decision they can revisit.

The community's role is to make those pathways visible and celebrate verified progress along them.