October 7th, 2009
SOAR fair stresses "Education Pays"

STAFF REPORT

The San Marcos Educational Partners Seeking Opportunities, Achieving Results (SOAR) Initiative will have its second annual San Marcos Education Fair Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Activity Center, 501 East Hopkins Street. The event is sponsored by State Farm Insurance and features a plethora of information for parents and activities for children. Admission is free and the fair is open to the public.

The event is designed to help families become more connected and involved with their children’s education and features the resources to help.

The fair has something for everyone in the family, providing information on early childhood development, elementary, middle and high schools in the area, college admissions and adult continuing education opportunities.

Kids will be entertained by a variety of activities. There will be a “celebrity reading corner” and an arts and crafts area where local artist Veronique Zehnder-Hahn will help students depict themselves in an assortment of careers.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Texas will have a booth and be seeking volunteers for their program.

Free seminar topics will include,  “Middle School Transitions,” “High School Transitions,” “Algebra Spoken Here,” and “Test Stress: A Parent’s Guide to College Test Prep.”

Organizers of the fair have also invited the participation of a number of non-profit agencies that provide vital support services to San Marcos Families. The ACC Mobile Go Center will be present to help high school students complete their FARFSA and will also provide information on the college admission process.

Attendees who visit a minimum of six booths can enter a drawing to win door prizes.  The prizes include gift cards, bicycles and brand new laptop computers. Several area businesses have donated prizes.

The message that the fair would like to impart is that “Education Pays.”  Students that graduate from high school can expect lifetime earnings of more than $1 million dollars.  Students that graduate from college will earn another million in lifetime earnings.