On October 17th the 7th annual SCHS Tech Fair took place. Some of the highlights of this year’s Tech fair were presentations and demonstrations of robotics, drones, eSports and virtual reality. Students had eleven different breakout sessions to choose from and students had to only go to one session but it was recommended that they choose two or three if one session was already full. There were about 35 vendors with colleges and several area businesses to talk to students and answer any questions they have. There was also a prize drawing. Students could win by getting tickets from their Focus teachers to potentially win the prizes. 

This year’s Tech Fair had two keynote speakers and they were Tony Vincent and Ricky Simmons.  According to Jeff Droge, Director of Technology at Schuyler Community Schools, Tony Vincent was the keynote speaker because the IT staff had heard him speak over the past several years at the Nebraska Education Technology Association conference in Omaha. “Nearly 2,000 educators attend the conference every year and only the best of the best are chosen to speak at this event,” Mr. Droge shared. Ricky Simmons was chosen by Dr. Dan Hoesing, Schuyler Community Schools Superintendant, as the second keynote speaker. Ricky was chosen was because “he has a special way of connecting with students while discussing difficult topics,” Mr. Droge shared. According to Mr. Droge, Ricky has experienced the bad things that happen to people in life and is telling them what he has experienced to encourage them to not make the same mistakes he made in the past.      

“Our students benefit from participating in our Tech Fair because they have several opportunities to see and hear first hand from real people in real careers,” Mr. Droge shared. Nearly every college in the area was represented in the Tech Fair and there were also several business areas at the Tech Fair to talk to students. “Our area businesses know many of our students will someday in the near future be potential employees and the sooner they can make connections with our students the better.” shared Mr. Droge.