Opportunity is Knocking career fair returns to Staunton on Saturday

Opportunity is Knocking, Staunton’s national award-winning career, academic and opportunities fair, returns for a fourth year. It’s scheduled from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Booker t. Washington Community Center in Staunton on Saturday, Dec. 10.

Opportunity is Knocking is a brainchild of former Staunton City School products-turned-Staunton City School educators Mark Rexrode and Carla Vandevander. Born into a family of educators, the two siblings created the program to ensure that every single student in Staunton City Schools had a clear path to success.

Ordinarily held in Janauary, the fair has been moved to December to reflect recent changes in the Staunton City Schools schedule and the college application process.

“The semester now ends before Christmas break,” … “If students get inspired and need to change schedule, we want to leave for time for that. If they see a local college, they have time to apply for that. And FAFSA now opens in October instead of January, we want them to have to get the FAFSA filled out.”

Along with guest speakers and break-out sessions from local experts, the fair allows fair-goers to explore paths to military career, trade schools, Valley Vo-Tech, scholarships and FAFSA information, community college and four-year colleges plus many other avenues which students and community members can pursue career paths.  

In 2015, Opportunity is Knocking received a prestigious national award for the annual career and opportunity fair.

The fair has been embraced with great enthusiasm by the community, with dozens local businesses donating prizes and many local eateries chipping in tons of food to provide all fair-goers with a delicious free lunch.

Vandevander has since accepted a position with Mary Baldwin University, and she is excited about the university joining Staunton City Schools and Blue Ridge Community in taking a larger role in this year’s fair.

 “Mary Baldwin has participated before, but now that they have done it for a year or two, they are like ‘Wow, we want to have even more involvement,” Vandevander said.