The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) in partnership with the Pasadena Educational Foundation invites students and families to attend the 2013 College Fair & Career Pathways Showcase Wednesday, October 9 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Pasadena Convention Center. The event will include a college fair, seminars and student career portfolio showcase. The event is free and open to the public, serving as a forum for students and families to become better acquainted with the educational and extracurricular opportunities that participating institutions can offer.

The event will feature representatives from approximately 100 colleges, universities and technical schools. Financial aid and NCAA college athletics information will also be available. Additionally, high school community business partners such as the Armory Center for the Arts, Lockheed, JPL and the Light Bringer Project will be on hand to highlight projects PUSD students have accomplished in career academies.

PUSD’s College and Career Pathways connect academics to real-world applications by integrating challenging instruction with a demanding project-based technical curriculum. Students explore the workplace, build experience and develop mentoring relationships with local businesses, government and nonprofits. High school academies include Arts, Entertainment and Media, Business and Entrepreneurship, Creative Arts and Design, Culinary Arts and Hospitality, Engineering and Environmental Science, Health Careers, Law and Public Service and the App Academy (mobile, web and game development). Students apply to academies during PUSD’s open enrollment period which takes place in January.

“This event is an opportunity for families to create a road map for their child’s future,” said PUSD Superintendent Jon R. Gundry. “The earlier the better when it comes to students and families thinking about college and career.”