Allan Hancock College opened its Santa Maria campus Thursday to more than 1,000 local high school and college students for its annual Career Exploration Day, creating a bustling hub of career discovery, job networking, and interactive learning.
With more than 250 exhibitors on site, the largest number in the event’s history, according to organizers, the gathering gave students access to a wide array of industries, from law enforcement and healthcare to culinary arts, cybersecurity, and education.
“This is the most exhibitors we’ve ever seen. Two hundred fifty-eight exhibitors, up from about 200 last year,” said David Hernandez, a career counselor at Allan Hancock College. “It really gives students an opportunity to engage with industry professionals they normally wouldn’t come across in everyday life.”
High schoolers from across the Central Coast including Arroyo Grande, Santa Ynez and Lompoc, joined Hancock students to explore future careers and academic paths. Though Santa Maria High School was absent due to a conflicting homecoming event, Hernandez estimated around 1,300 students participated overall.
As students circulated between booths, they practiced CPR with the college’s EMS team, watched cheer performances, explored virtual reality job demos, and even modeled in a student-led fashion showcase. Some booths offered on-the-spot interviews for entry-level positions, creating real-world career opportunities.
“This is our second year including a hiring fair,” Hernandez added. “Some of the exhibitors are hiring, so Allan Hancock students can bring their résumés and actually get hired on the spot. It’s really an exploration and career job fair combined.”
Daisy Garcia, Hancock’s student trustee, said the event was also an opportunity to connect with her peers.
“It’s been amazing connecting with students so far,” she said. “I’ve gotten to meet a lot of new students, talk with them about their majors, and learn about their career interests.”
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Garcia, who is majoring in radiology, noted the excitement surrounding the college’s new free radiology program. Her team set up a fall-themed engagement booth where students could spin a prize wheel or write down their career goals.
Students arrived with curiosity and sometimes uncertainty about their futures. According to Yvonne Peniente, dean of student services, such an event helps connect the dots between students’ interests and real academic or career pathways.
“A lot of students aren’t really sure what they want to major in yet, but they know what kind of career they want,” Peniente said. “This event helps them see how education and industry come together. It helps them understand that a major equals a career later on.”
Peniente also emphasized the popularity of Hancock’s Promise Program, which now offers two years of free tuition.
Leanna Diaz Uribe, a junior from Lompoc High School, said the experience helped her connect her passions with a practical plan.
“I want to do culinary, but I know I need to study business first,” she said.
She, like many others, made the rounds collecting stickers from different booths, 10 of which earned her a trip to the “Swag Shack” for a prize. “Honestly, I just want a water bottle because I’m thirsty,” she laughed.
April Chavez is the Santa Maria City Reporter for the Santa Maria Times. If you have information, or a story idea that you would like to share, send her an email at AChavez@SantaMariaTimes.com.