Making futures Bright!
Future Fair 2026
The 2026 Future Fair event was a great success. More than 500 RCSD 7th graders were inspired by 70 community professionals as they learned about careers and opportunities, and they met with college students during tours of the MCC Brighton campus. We are grateful to all of our career models, Volunteers, dedicated partners at RCSD and MCC, and especially grateful to all of our sponsors for making this possible.
For the second time, the Rochester Education Foundation (REF) will host an engaging event for 7th-grade students in Rochester to introduce them to a wide range of careers. Dynamic professionals from diverse fields—each of whom is financially independent, passionate about their work, and committed to giving back to the community—will serve as career models. These professionals will share their career journeys, including the education and training required for their roles. In addition to meeting professionals, students will connect with college students who will share their personal paths and encourage the 7th graders to envision a successful future for themselves.
What’s Future Fair?
Friday, February 6, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
(Set-up and networking opportunity for Career Models: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM)
Monroe Community College, Brighton Campus
When and Where:
How does it all work?
REF will recruit professionals with a diversity of careers. These dynamic career models will share what their job is, why they enjoy it and the training and education needed to get there.
REF will create a student- and family-friendly guide featuring headshots of each career model, along with descriptions of their careers and the education/training pathways that led them there.
REF will collaborate with partners at Monroe Community College (MCC) and RCSD to coordinate all event logistics, including campus tours and engagement with college students.
Student Experience:
This will be a two-hour, immersive experience for students.
Students will visit tables hosted by career models to learn about their professions, including the education and training required. Each table will feature a dynamic professional, engaging visuals, and/or interactive presentations.
7th graders will meet college students who will share their experiences and pathways to higher education.
Students will tour the MCC campus, guided by MCC students and staff.
The overall experience is designed to inspire students and help them visualize a successful future.
Ways to be involved
Career Models - Application
College Student Volunteers
Community Volunteers
Sponsorship opportunities!
Career Models
Love your job? Encourage and inspire RCSD students to help them imagine themselves having a bright future.
Criteria:
Financially independent
Enjoy your job
Give back to the community
Expectations:
Share information about your career
What you do, why you like your job, and what training is needed to get there
Engage with small groups of students at a robust fair and answer questions about your career
Share your talk with each new group of students
Provide pictures or posters, or media, and a dynamic presentation.
College Student Volunteers
College Student Volunteers are needed!
College students will guide 7th graders to meet dynamic career models who will share what they do, why they like their job, and what training is needed to get there.
Students will be exposed to some careers that they have heard of previously and some that are new to them. Imagine the impact!
Not in college and still want to give back to your community? Join us!
Community Volunteers will help with check-in, logistics, and flow. This will ensure the event is successful and smooth, enabling 7th graders to have a meaningful experience!