Juniors from Higley High School and Williams Field High School recently participated in Elevate for Tomorrow, a half-day college and career readiness conference hosted at the Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus by the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce. 

During the conference, students had the chance to connect with local employers and colleges, exploring various career and educational options firsthand. Chris Clark, CEO and president of the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce, shared his thoughts on the event's goals. 

“What we do is hope that they get an idea of what they might want to pursue going forward,” he said. “Then they have their senior year to gather more information, find out extra details, and maybe make those final decisions about whether they want to go to trade schools, college, or straight into the workforce.” 

Higley Unified School District has school counselors and college and career specialists at their high schools who work closely with students to ensure they are on track to achieve their post-graduation goals.

Stephanie French, a school counselor at Higley High School, reflected on the event.  

“This event is great because there are a lot of volunteer speakers and guest speakers who are not only affiliated with colleges but also with various career fields,” she said. “Students can network and gain valuable insights into what they want to do in the future.”  

Career counselors actively seek out events like "E4T" to help students build connections and learn about different career and educational options.

In alignment with the commitment, HUSD will be hosting a College and Career Fair from 6-7:30 p.m. at Higley High School. This event offers an opportunity for students from Higley High School, Williams Field High School, and middle schools, along with their families, to explore a variety of college and career options.