David Ottalini shows a class at the Hollywood Elementary School a copy of The Diamondback while explaining his career as a journalist.
A class of 25 kindergartners learned about robotics from University of Maryland volunteers, who showed them videos on creating robots with the materials used to build Legos.
College Park Scholars Science, Technology and Society Director David Tomblin and Assistant Director Matt Aruch also told students about the after-school program they hold with Hollywood Elementary School fourth-graders during which they teach students how robots are built.
Tomblin and Aruch were part of a group of 10 volunteers from the university, ranging from managers to deans, to help showcase different career opportunities to Hollywood Elementary School students at a career fair Friday.
“We want this to be an option for our staff and to let students see there are diverse opportunities for them,” said Tricia Homer, this univeristy’s Office of Community Engagement assistant director. “This is really getting us out into the community.”
Deidra O’Brien, the elementary school counselor, said she reached out to Homer in hopes of having some of the faculty speak to the students. The all-day event kept students engaged with different professions and presentations, she said.
“Elementary school is really about exploration,” O’Brien said. “It’s not about the job you’ll be picking for life. It’s more about learning how what we are doing now will help you one day.”
David Ottalini, journalism school senior communications manager, said he saw how inquisitive the students became after they learned about different professions.
“It’s a fun way to give students a chance to think about career possibilities that they might have,” Ottalini said.
Big sheets of paper with questions were taped up on the chalkboards and after the presentations the students would turn to their questions to learn more.
“Here is an opportunity to talk to kids at earlier ages and tell them what they can do,” said Gloria Aparicio Blackwell, Office of Community Engagement director. “Look at what we turned out to be, and now you also have that opportunity.”
Tomblin said the career fair gave the university volunteers a chance to learn more about the community outside of the university.
“We are isolated, because the campus is its own little community,” Tomblin said. “But I think it’s important that we get out and learn about what the rest of the community is about.”
Learning about different professions at the career fair helped encourage fifth-grader Stephanie Galdamez to study hard in school and get a job one day.
“I really want to get a job,” she said. “It’s important for education, and some people don’t have the privilege for education. Since you have the privilege, right now, why don’t you just take advantage of it instead of waiting and then saying ‘Why didn’t I study for a job?’”
