Seminole schools seek local employers for career fair, internship expo

Seminole County Public Schools is trying to do more than fill a Saturday calendar. It is using its Pathways to Possibilities Career Fair and Internship Expo to confront a familiar workforce problem in Seminole County: students need clearer routes into local jobs, and employers need a steadier pipeline of trained talent.

The district’s combined career fair and internship expo is aimed at SCPS 10th-, 11th- and 12th-graders and is built to connect them with internships, employment opportunities and career exploration. The 2026 event was set for Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to noon at Seminole State College’s Sanford/Lake Mary campus in Building L.

For businesses, the pitch was practical. SCPS said employers could recruit through booth space, offer paid or unpaid internships, and present information about careers in their industries. The district also expanded the event to include 10-minute micro-presentations, giving companies another way to explain what they do and what skills matter before students enter the labor market.

That makes the expo more than a tabling event. It is part of the district’s larger ePathways effort, which SCPS says was created so graduates leave with meaningful diplomas and a clear path to high-demand, high-wage employment. The district says its career pathways are developed with Seminole State College and business and industry representatives, tying classroom learning directly to the needs of local employers.

The work-based learning materials behind the effort make that connection explicit, saying students need opportunities to deepen classroom learning by applying skills, passions and interests in authentic workplace settings. SCPS also says a spring internship fair is part of its student-internship programming, showing the expo is one piece of a broader calendar rather than a one-off event.

Employer interest appeared strong before the doors even opened. A Seminole County Chamber member post said 25 local businesses had already secured spots for the 2026 expo. The chamber post also quoted SCPS coordinator Allie Hilliard, who said the event creates tangible opportunities that benefit both student career growth and “the economic vitality of Seminole County.”

That is the real measure for Seminole County families and employers alike. If the expo produces internships, entry-level hires and direct contacts between students and companies, it will have done more than showcase careers for a few hours at Seminole State College. It will have strengthened the county’s talent pipeline where schools and businesses meet.