College fair features schools from here, abroad

High school students swarmed the Multi-purpose Sports Complex last Thursday for the 2026 College Fair, where they met with representatives from seven colleges and universities.

The two-day event was a joint effort organised for the second year in a row by H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and Elmore Stoutt High School.

Because inclement weather grounded several flights, only two of the expected 11 representatives attended on the first day, which was held at HLSCC, and four never made it at all, said HLSCC Registrar Janice Dawson.

But on the second day in Road Town, students were able to take advantage of the resources provided by representatives from seven educational institutions who did manage to attend.

“Students are getting a wealth of information,” Ms. Dawson said during the event last Thursday. “Even though they will search online and try to go through all the many colleges, that face-to-face experience, I think, is very good for them. And so we are here today giving them that opportunity.”

Participating schools included South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina; St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada; the University of the Virgin Islands in the United States VI; Richmond American University London; Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama; Life University in Marietta, Georgia; and HLSCC.

Many students asked mainly about tuition, according to school representatives.

Dominic Alessio, professor of history at Richmond American University of London, was struck by some of the questions students did not ask.

“I’m surprised,” he said. “For me, as a parent, I’d always think about safety. And that’s one of the things that I guess these students are not asking about. Right? But I think as a parent that would’ve been one of my priorities. London’s a very safe city. It’s easy to get around. I raised my kids: At 11, 12, they were on the Underground by themselves.”

The professor added that many students expressed interest in business and film majors and the school’s one-year or one-semester exchange programme, which does not charge international tuition rates.

“They just pay the normal tuition, and we transfer all those grades in,” said Mr. Alessio, who is also vice president of international programmes at the school.

“The Richmond American University of London just signed an agreement with [HLSCC], you know, for a two plus two. So when their students graduate, they can come to us, and because they get the same cost we can transfer their grades. They do two years with us and then they get a British degree and an American degree. We’re the first university in the world to have that.”

Location was also a consideration for students, some of whom were not enticed by the idea of leaving home.

“Outside the country: It would be a downside, mostly because I’m not used to America, whereas HLSCC is on the island and I’m more familiar with it,” said Rinaldo Francis, a senior at ESHS. “Probably more information about tuition costs, on-campus housing and stuff like that to seriously consider leaving.”

‘Creative solutions’

At the fair’s peak around midday last Thursday, more than 100 students were in attendance. They swarmed tables and congregated to discuss potential paths.

Geoff Herzog, director of international transfer and veteran student services at SCSU, said he hoped he was able to steer students in directions that interested them.

“[I hope] that they have new ideas about their opportunities and what they might be able to do with themselves,” he said. “Personally, that’s what I hope: that it stimulates their thinking, which obviously is important because these students, they’re the present. And as you know, the present is a mess, so we need them to start working on creative solutions to move us into a different future.”