Fort Walton Beach High School transformed its gymnasium into a hub of opportunity Friday as it held its second annual Viking Voyage Career Fair, bringing together students and more than 130 local businesses and organizations.
- The event, which has grown significantly from approximately 80 vendors last year, connected students with potential employers, colleges, and career paths ranging from law and medicine to trades and military service.
“Today we have our second annual Viking Voyage career fair,” said Principal Lindsey Smith. “We’ve got about 130 local businesses and organizations including different college programs and military branches.”
Smith emphasized that some businesses were actively hiring students during the fair, continuing a trend from previous year where several students secured summer employment through connections made at the event.
In preparation for this year’s fair, the school introduced students to Xello, an online career exploration platform accessible through their school accounts.
- “It’s a service that we’re able to provide and we just really wanted to amp it up this year,” Smith said. “Students can do career inventory, look into careers, and even build a resume. They can do a life simulation where they see how much things cost and then how much their career could pay towards those things.”
According to Dr. Linda Dugan, Professional School Counselor at FWBHS, this focus on career readiness aligns with Florida’s House Bill 571, which emphasizes introducing careers to students across all grade levels.
“We implemented what’s called Xello. It’s something that the state of Florida implemented where all of our students and our staff have been trained on how to research different careers and to match into careers and explorations, and abilities and skills,” Dugan said.
This preparation proved valuable as students arrived at the fair with specific questions and interests. The entire student body of approximately 1,500 students cycled through the event in four waves, ensuring all students had access to the resources.
- “They get so excited. You’ve been walking around in there and you can feel it,” Smith said. “They’re talking to different people and I think with the incorporation of the preparation into this one, they have real questions to ask.”
The fair featured a diverse range of career options, emphasizing opportunities for all students regardless of whether they plan to attend college or enter the workforce directly after graduation.
“Some of our students will have the opportunity for internships directly from this fair,” Dugan explained. “Some of them are going right into the work field. So for those students, this is a great start. Many of them can work all the way up to managers or owning their own company one day.”
Fleet, Smith and Freeman Law Firm in Shalimar has participated again this year and believes in the importance of community involvement.
- “It truly takes a village to support these young people as they find their path,” said Bart Fleet. “As local attorneys who grew up in this community, it’s incredibly important for our firm to be part of giving back. I enjoy the mix of questions from the students, even when they’re just stopping by for a piece of candy – it still creates an opportunity for connection.”
For businesses like Advanced Fire Protective Services in Fort Walton Beach, the fair offers a chance to showcase diverse career paths outside traditional college routes.
“These events are invaluable for getting in front of students and showing them the range of opportunities available right here in their community,” said Sean Galkowski from AFPS. “We offer various employment options, especially for those looking to enter the workforce directly after high school. We have several employees who’ve been with us over 20 years, showing students that these careers can provide long-term stability and growth.”
Senior Laura Spolski has immersed herself in school life during her time at FWBHS, participating in eight clubs and three different sports. With just 28 days left until graduation, she’s been working with the guidance office to help prepare for the career fair while also planning her own future.
As a volunteer with the guidance office, Spolski has attended both career fairs during her high school career and has witnessed the event’s growth firsthand. She credits the fair with helping her clarify her own path toward accounting at Northwest Florida State College, where she’ll be attending in the fall.
- “I think a lot of us don’t realize how many things are available to us,” Spolski said. “There’s so many different outlets for everyone depending on what they want to do. Our Viking Voyage offers a bit of security knowing there are opportunities after we graduate.”
The career fair has also connected Spolski with scholarship opportunities through Northwest Florida State College, addressing a key concern for many graduating seniors.
The fair’s growth reflects strong community support for the school’s career readiness initiatives. Smith noted that many businesses recognize the value of engaging with local students.
“Our community knows that it is important to take the kids that are in our schools and to develop leaders within our community, to hire within and to keep them here,” Smith said. “A lot of our kids stay here, they go to school here, or when they go to school, they come back. I think our community members and our businesses know that is a gold mine sitting right in front of them.”
The school prepared students for the fair not only through the Xello program but also through a themed week leading up to the event.
- “We have our career fair week, which is our themed week, like how we have Spirit Weeks,” Spolski explained. “A bunch of our teachers asked us to think about what you want to look for when you go into these things and just try and actually have an open mind.”
For Dugan, the fair’s success stems from building relationships with the local business community.
“The beauty of growth is that you’re establishing those relationships and those connections to your community,” she said. “A lot of that success is built on the relationships that we’ve gone out to get. But then to hear from our community about how they can help our students is truly remarkable.”
As the Viking Voyage Career Fair continues to evolve, it stands as a bridge between classroom learning and real-world opportunities, helping students chart their course toward future success.
One Response
It was an AMAZING show from our community, and we are so grateful to Dr Dugan and the rest of the guidance department for securing such a worthwhile event for our students!!! Great job everyone!!!!