A University of Regina representative answers student questions during a career fair held in the Holy Rosary High School library April 9. In addition to the career fair, professors shared their knowledge in classrooms during specialized sessions. Jeannette Benoit-Leipert Meridian Source
Holy Rosary High School (HRHS) students were in for an academic treat Tuesday, with University of Regina professors on hand to answer questions about their specific areas of expertise.
The university graced HRHS with 27 faculty and grad students as well as their recruitment team, heading up a career fair in the library.
“They kind of take their university and transplant it in our high school, and so we have over 29 guest lectures or activities happening in our classrooms today,” said HRHS career counsellor Lisa Marie Kreese, adding teachers had the opportunity to sign up ahead of time to have a guest speak to their class.
“We have experts in their fields coming from all these different faculties into the classrooms to give us lectures and kind of peak some curiosity in the students about post-secondary and what there is beyond high school. It’s just been a phenomenal opportunity.”
Among the special guests was U of R president, Jeff Keshen.
“We’ve done this for the last couple of years, where we go to different high schools. We take people from our faculties, our athletic programs, and international and we show off the university.
“When we came here and spoke to the fantastic students at Holy Rosary and the staff here they said why don’t you come back with a UR day here, and we’re absolutely thrilled to do so. It’s been an absolute joy being here,” said Keshen, adding they’ve done the same in other cities throughout Saskatchewan as well.
HRHS principal, Jeremy Blais, was ecstatic to have U of R staff visit and offer new learning experiences for high school students.
“We’re very excited to have a partnership with the University of Regina … it’s a great opportunity for our students and staff to learn alongside the University of Regina staff,” said Blais.
“They’ve set up a career fair here, where students can go through and see all the different programs that they offer.
“It’s a good opportunity for all of our students to start thinking about post-secondary and start getting prepared for that next chapter in their lives.”
Kreese said the insight and experience the U of R brings right to the students’ fingertips is amazing, and may open up doors even for students who didn’t plan on attending a post-secondary institution.
“I think that some students in high school assume that they’re going to enter post-secondary training in trades or post-secondary training in universities, colleges, polytechnics and I think there’s other students who maybe don’t think it’s a possibility for them,” said Kreese.
“So to have a professor from a university who’s very passionate about their field, come and peak some curiosity is just exciting for our students, to have that opportunity.”
She says the U of R has been great to collaborate with to make UR Day happen.
“The recruitment team at U of R has been excellent, working with us and seeing what we need and how can we create this day to be the most effective use of their time and ours, and making sure that the students get the most out of it,” said Kreese.
