MARFA — This Wednesday the Marfa High School campus was abuzz as sixth- through twelfth-grade students gathered in classrooms to hear from a variety of professionals about their careers.
The career fair was organized by Marfa ISD’s Linda Ojeda and the Marfa Education Foundation (MEF), a nonprofit that assists the district with funding and programs.
“Career day has been going strong for several years now at Marfa ISD,” MEF Executive Director Abby Boyd said. “I have had the pleasure of participating both as a presenter and now as an organizer, and it’s been really rewarding.”
Boyd said the event helps introduce Marfa kids to a wide range of job opportunities right here in the community and allows for professionals that don’t often visit the school to interact with the town’s youth.
“I think it’s also a great opportunity for the folks who aren’t directly involved with the school on a regular basis to come in and see how amazing our kids are and how great our school is,” Boyd said. “The kids get really into it, and the teachers and administration are always so helpful and kind and grateful for the show from the community.”
Participants included: librarians Jasmin Pineda and Kim Soto; Marfa ISD staff Arturo Alferez and Janet Enriquez; McDonald Observatory staff Dr. Teznie Pugh and Katie Kizziar; TPWD staff Rachael Connally and Layla Spurlock; Judd Foundation archivist Erin Schneider; family doctor Dr. Christie Alexander; Border Patrol staff Daniel Holguin, Isabel Cash, Deborah Litterio, Christine Vajdos; Dixon Water Foundation staff Rachel Vasquez and Zach Vaughn; Marfa Hardware Company and YB-Y Construction owner Yoseff Ben-Yehuda; Access for Success career advisor Shelley Shackelford; attorney-at-law and Presidio County Attorney Blair Park; Big Bend Regional Hospital staff Isabela Moralles, Kendra Serano R.N., Alyssa Stewart; Grand Companions Humane Society HR and executive assistant Cullen Monaco; National Renewable Energy Laboratory molecular biologist Christopher Johnson; El Cosmico Assistant General Manager Dione Acosta; Marfa EMS Chief Aaron Perez; Borderlands Research Institute Associate Director of Research Dr. Lalo Gonzalez; Work Force Solutions employment services advisor Joseph Torres; MudLab architect Elizabeth Farrell; dental student Daniella Acosta; TLC Plumbing owner Anthony Curry; Big Bend Sentinel reporter Mary Cantrell; Urbanbound Software engineering manager Adrienne Humblet; Independent Petroleum geologist Kevin Labbe; Chinati Foundation Visitor Services Manager Julie Carey; American Electric Power staff Cosme Roman, Manny Baeza, William Dixon and Larry Serrano.
