Idea Festival Youth Event - Fayette County 2019 

Who Should Exhibit at the IF Bluegrass Career Maker Faire:   Anyone looking for new employees or students!

Colleges Universities (including specific academic programs and admissions) Businesses, Manufacturers, Workforce Training schools and organizations, Technical Training Schools, Advanced Manufacturing, Entrepreneurial Incubators & Companies, Creative & Arts Organizations, STEM businesses & organizations, more.

Why Should You Exhibit at the IF Bluegrass Career Maker Faire:   Three exciting days of networking and relationship building serving approximately 2,400 students.

• Service to advance the regional economically and academically by joining over 800 Fayette County Public School juniors on April 16, 2019  at the University of Kentucky
• Service to advance the regional economically and academically by joining over 800 8^th-12^th grade students from the 18-county Bluegrass Region at Morehead State and Kentucky State Universities in the Fall 
• Affordable access to an audience you want to be in front of for recruiting!
  
  • $250 for a single booth at the Fayette County Event
  • $500 for multiple booths representing different departments at the Fayette County Event
  • $500 for single booth at ALL THREE 2019 Events in the Bluegrass Region.
    • UK - April 19 2019
    • Kentucky State University  - Fall 2019
    • Morehead State University - Fall 2019

We want students to have an “Ah Ha” the light bulb comes on, experience when they see your innovative hands-on exhibit.  We want them to say: “I didn’t know about that.”, “That’s So Cool.”,  “That’s where I want to go to school.”, "That’s what I want to be.”.

If you are a non-profit or an educational organization assistance is available to help navigate costs. It matters that you are in the room and we want to help! Please contact Rob Rumpke if you need to discuss this further. 859-351-2447 or rob@bluegrasstomorrow.org.

How Will The Exhibit Hall Be Set-up and What Will The Experience Look Like: Exhibitors are placed into "Career Clusters" or groupings of popular Career Pathways identified by student self-assessments.

What Will My Career Cluster Look Like?

• Up to 1000 students will attend the Career Maker Faire during the day, split in two 500 student groups. They will move in groups of approximately 40 students (the busload they came in on) spending about 10 minutes per choice Career Cluster. Each student will visit a minimum of 5 clusters during that day.
• You will be joined by 6-10 other industry & higher ed representatives in your Career Cluster.
•  A 6-ft table will be provided with  electricity (if needed) for each industry & higher ed representative.
• Your Career Cluster’s location at U.K. will be assigned by Monday April 8^th. 
•  Doors will be open for setup by 7:30 a.m., and displays should be set up by 9:30 a.m. for a 10:00 start.

What Should I Expect At My Career Cluster?

• Based on their ILP data (Individualized Learning Plan), visiting students have handpicked your Career Cluster to explore what they need to consider today to prepare for college or a career in your field tomorrow.
• Bring along hands-on demonstrations, activities or props that may help students understand what a day in your career/program really looks, feels, smells and sounds like. A complete 360o view of your day in your profession/program.
• Think of a way the students can "Test Drive" your career experience.
• Appeal to all types of learners by giving them something to see, hear, and do at your booth. ie
  •  
    • Hands on Activities
    • Short Video Shown on Repeat
    • Talk About Your Daily Experiences (good & Bad)
• If feasible, consider bringing literature or a takeaway to help students explore resources critical in your field.
• .Discuss courses and extra curricular opportunities in which the students are currently engaged.
• If feasible, consider bringing literature or a takeaway to help students explore resources critical in your field.
• Discuss courses and extra curricular opportunities in which the students are currently engaged.
  • Do these Align with your program or profession?
  • What were YOU thinking & doing at their age to help preparey ou for this field?
  • What do you WISH you had been thinking & doing at their age to prepare for this field

• Students will be encouraged to come prepared with questions and naturally move among representatives to stimulate organic conversation and casual dialogue between current and future professionals in your field/students in your program.

We encourage exhibitors to be creative, providing something to do, see, feel, touch, smell, provide an experience, a demonstration.   Career “speed dating” concepts will be utilized, sending students to you in groups of 30-40 at a time.  We don’t want this to be a boring trade show, career fair type of event. Half of the Students in attendance will experience the Maker Faire, while others are listening to TED-style speakers in the auditorium.   It will all be coordinated depending on arrival and departures of buses.  You must come self-contained.   We will provide a table & two chairs per exhibitor.