BIDDEFORD  — Career fairs are a great way for adults in the workforce to make connections, but they can also be an effective teaching tool for students.

The Ignite Conference, hosted by the Biddeford + Saco Chamber of Commerce + Industry brought about 50 businesses, schools and organizations to the Tiger Gym, at Biddeford High School on Tuesday,

Participants had representatives on hand at booths to answer questions, hand out information and talk about job opportunities. There was also a speaker series with topics that included recruiting and retaining volunteers, cultivating internships, and enriching community transportation.

Biddeford Center of Technology Career Pathways Coordinator Tracey Collins and student Lily Jordan stopped by the Renewal by Anderson booth and listened to Marketing Manager Sven Johnson talk about the company.

Collins created a scavenger hunt for her students in a career exploration class as a way to get extra credit for class and talk with people in local industries.

Student Jayce Kearney explained that students were required to find different types of industries and learn what kind of job opportunities were available, what skills were needed for the jobs and if the jobs were full-time, part-time or seasonal. Students were also asked to evaluate the conference.

“It’s pretty cool. You can check out someplace and get information you might not have the opportunity to get otherwise,” said Kearney.

He said he talked with a representative from Home Depot and learned about the company’s employee benefit program, which includes discounts to other stores and tuition reimbursement.

Student Bryce Jordan said he enjoyed seeing Funtown, where he will begin his second season this summer, represented at the conference.

Biddeford Center for Techonology students Samuel Roy and Odilon Irambona were staffing the school’s booth at the conference.

Irambona said having students talk about the program was beneficial because they can know first hand the positive effects of the program.

Roy agreed.

“It’s a completely different perspective,” he said.

Roy took welding classes through the school and through the program was given the opportunity to take necessary testing for certification that could cost up to $800 a test otherwise.

Irambona took classes at the school’s business academy and was going to go to college not only with work experience in banking but with nine college credits under his belt.

Roy said they were proud of the hard work they had done and their accomplishments at the school, and hoped they could talk with other students who might find a field of study they’re interested in which could bloom into a career.

 — Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].