The SPARKS 8th Grade Career Exploration Fair, an event hosted by the Greater Binghamton Outreach Program, kicked off its 5th year at SUNY Broome today.

Over 2,300 students from 20 different middle schools from Tioga, Delaware, and Broome County learned more about career opportunities as they approach high school.

Students got to participate in 120 demonstrations hosted by over 30 organizations, from electrical engineering workshops, truck driving simulations, a cooking class, and CPR instruction.

Rose Olsen, Talent and Education Director for the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, hopes the opportunity inspires the students to find jobs that suit their interests locally.

"If we inspired people at a younger age to see that there are so many jobs available right here in Broome County, then we can inspire them to want to take those jobs and take courses in high school and go to college that might be relevant to those careers that inspired them right at eighth grade," Olsen said.

Sponsors of the event include Labella associates, IBM, and the Raymond Corporation, who hope the event will continue to inspire the next generation of leaders.