SANFORD — Mariah Conner of Acton, a Sanford High School senior studying culinary arts at Sanford Regional Technical Center, dreams of opening her own business one day.

“I’d like to own a restaurant,” she said at a college fair Thursday.

Conner — and hundreds of other SRTC and SHS students — had the chance to explore options Thursday, when 75 colleges, industries and others set up shop at Sanford Veterans Memorial Gym, at SRTC’s annual college and career fair.

“The goal for this fair is to expose area juniors and seniors to the wide variety of post-secondary opportunities available to them and give them a forum in which to learn more about what options are best suited to their interests,” said Susan Williams, SRTC’s career planning coordinator.

There were plenty of avenues to explore — plenty of booths where human resources personnel from colleges, local industry, the military and entities like Sanford Police and Sanford Fire Department — provided information and answered questions.

Conner works part-time at Sanford’s 3rd Alarm Diner. She started there in July, washing dishes, she said, and has been working her way up, and has already done some cooking

“I like cooking anything” Conner said, and is inspired by television cooking shows. She is looking to further her education in the field, either at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, Southern Maine Community College or York County Community College.

Jillian Miller, a Massabesic High School student at SRTC and Isabelle Creamer, a Noble High School student, also study culinary arts at SRTC. On Thursday, they stopped by the Thomas College booth, to learn more about the private business and liberal arts college in Waterville.

Miller is drawn to both culinary arts and journalism and is exploring her options.

Benjamin Kahler, a Marshwood High School student who is in the EMT program at SRTC, stopped by the Pratt & Whitney booth at the fair. Located in North Berwick, the company manufactures engine parts for military and other aircraft. It’s not in the EMT field, but Kahler said he’s interested, and the company has a number of opportunities, said Pratt & Whitney representative Lorraine Marcotte, including  a partnership with York County Community College.

“Look a the website,” Marcotte  urged those looking for a career at Pratt & Whitney. “Job are posted weekly.”

“They’re close by,” said Kahler. “And I think it would be cool to work there.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].