Bentonville Fair Presents Post-Graduation Options

Friday, April 4, 2014

BENTONVILLE -- Bentonville High School hosted its first Transition Fair on Thursday to help students who receive special services learn more about options after graduation.

About 25 organizations were represented at the fair. They included postsecondary choices such as NorthWest Arkansas Community College and Northwest Technical Institute as well as organizations serving people with disabilities, such as United Cerebral Palsy of Arkansas.

Penny Graves, the high school's special education transition coordinator, organized the fair, which was meant primarily for juniors and seniors.

"It was my vision to help facilitate the process parents and students need to take the next step after high school," Graves said.

Graves estimated 350 of the school's students would be classified as special-education students.

The fair originally was scheduled for February but was canceled because of winter weather. The event was rescheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thursday, which happened to be about the time thunderstorms began to move through the area. The weather might have weakened the turnout rate.

Still, Graves was pleased with how it went overall, adding the next time she does it will probably be in the fall. She also hopes to include students from other area high schools.

Among those in attendance were Angela Clark and her 17-year-old daughter, JoAngela Clark, a junior at the school. Angela Clark said her daughter had been thinking her career options were limited.

At the fair, however, JoAngela Clark was inspired by her meeting with U.S. Army representatives. She likely will join the Army before pursuing a career in the medical field.

"There's a lot of information here," Angela Clark said about the fair.

James Moss, an admissions counselor for Arkansas Job Corps, was among those presenting at the fair. Job Corps is a national program that offers career development services to men and women age 16 to 24 to prepare them for successful careers.

Moss, who covers much of Northwest Arkansas for Job Corps, said he doesn't think Job Corps gets nearly the kind of attention it deserves.

"Absolutely not. No way," he said. "The national office will run commercials once in a while. The overwhelming number of students who come into my office have heard about it from someone else."

Also presenting at the fair was Tammy Hardison, a case manager and coordinator for Friendship Community Care, which provides services for adults and children with disabilities. Hardison also has a daughter who grew up with special needs.

"I'm here to get information out to parents and guardians who need these services and give them a place to go to get questions answered," Hardison said. "I know how hard it is thinking you're the only one who's dealing with this kind of thing."

NW News on 04/04/2014