Charlottesville Schools Host Daytime College Fair
Starr Hill Pathways and Hoos First launched a new event at Monticello High School to reach first-generation students.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in College Applications
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Starr Hill Pathways and the Hoos First office organized a college fair at Monticello High School for local juniors and seniors. The initiative brought university admissions representatives directly to students during the school day.
Why it matters
Counselors noted that first-generation students often face barriers to attending traditional evening events. By moving the fair into the school day, organizers hope to ensure more students have direct access to university admissions information.
The college fair concluded at 12:30 p.m. to align with student lunch hours. Hoos First currently supports more than 4,000 first-generation and limited-income students at UVA.
The players
Starr Hill Pathways
An organization that works to support student access to higher education in the local area.
Hoos First
A UVA office that provides resources and support for first-generation and limited-income students.
Virginia Tech
A public land-grant research university located in Blacksburg, Virginia, that sent admissions representatives to the event.
VCU
The Virginia Commonwealth University is a public research university based in Richmond that participated in the fair.
The details
Admissions representatives from institutions across Virginia, including Virginia Tech and VCU, participated in the one-on-one sessions. This marks the first time these organizations have hosted such an event at this school location.
Timeline
The college fair took place on October 29, 2026.
Culture Shift
This event reflects a growing trend of prioritizing direct outreach to address college access barriers for first-generation students. It marks a departure from traditional evening-only models toward inclusive schedules that fit into the student school day.
Local juniors and seniors gained direct, one-on-one access to university representatives without needing to attend evening events. Organizers plan to expand the college fair program to additional schools in future years.
The takeaway
Moving recruitment efforts into the school day helps normalize the college application process for students who struggle with evening commitments. Families should encourage their students to participate in these direct-access events whenever they are offered on campus.
Further reading
For more on local initiatives for students, visit the College Applications section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 29news.
Live Poll
Should high schools host college fairs during the school day to increase student access?
