High school juniors interested in learning more about educational and military opportunities after graduation can do so at the upcoming spring education fair at Albert Lea High School, sponsored by the Minnesota Association for College Admission Counseling.

The fair will be in the ALHS gym from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 1. Students from Albert Lea, Glenville-Emmons, United South Central, Alden-Conger, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva and Waseca high schools have been invited to attend.

ALHS Counselor Rod Johnson said there will be 100 college, university, technical college and military representatives on hand to meet with families.

There will be representatives from Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan, Arizona and New York in attendance, Johnson said.

There will be representatives from University Technical Institute in Arizona, from Michigan Technological University and from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“This is a once-in-a-year opportunity that can assist families in making those difficult post-high school plans,” he said. “It is our hope that all ALHS families will take advantage of this informative evening.”

While the fair is designed for high school juniors, it is appropriate for sophomores and seniors to attend as well, he added. Parents and their children are encouraged to attend together.

When families come to the fair, all of the educational representatives will be in alphabetical order, and the families will be given a list of colleges. The military representatives will all be grouped together.

Johnson said this is the 27th year he’s been involved with the education fair, and it was held prior to that as well. It’s been hosted in the spring for probably the last 20 or 21 years.

He said he thinks its best for juniors to attend a fair in the spring while they’re doing serious exploration into college opportunities. Then they can set up their college visits for the summer. In the fall, they can make their final visits to their top colleges.

He encouraged people to take advantage of the opportunities available at the fair.

The only time students would get to hear from more college representatives is by attending the National College Fair at the Minneapolis Convention Center, he said. But students wouldn’t get the attention there that they would at the more local fair.

No athletic, music or drama activities will be scheduled for the night of the fair so that students and families can attend together.