SPARTANBURG - Over 1,000 Upstate parents, middleschool and high-school students recently attended Spartanburg Community College's (SCC) first Career Quest '06 at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium.

Presented by SCC and the Upstate Regional Center for Educational Support, Career Quest '06 served as a career exploration experience that provided students and their parents the opportunity to explore career options available after graduation and expanded options available to students with a college education.

Representatives from over 60 area business, middle and high school career counselors and SCC advisors were on hand to talk with students, share personal insights into different career fields, and advise parents and students on the options necessary for specific job fields, the best high school graduation plan and the additional education/ training necessary to succeed in targeted careers.

"This event gives students lots of exposure to different career avenues," said Matthew Lyles of Spartanburg, who attended the event with a group of students from his church.

Debra Cothran of Boiling Springs came with her daughter Alexis. "It's definitely opened up her mind to different career options and given her lots to think about," said Cothran.

Career Quest '06 was organized around the 16 career clusters as defined under the state's Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA) which was designed to help South Carolina students begin defining specific career goals and better prepare for additional education after high school.

"We didn't know what to expect when we arrived," said Deborah Goins who attended Career Quest with her son Phoenix Puckett. "He's in the 11th grade, so the handouts that we've received and the businesses that we've been able to talk to are going to help him begin deciding what he wants to do after graduation."

Several area school's bussed students to the event to ensure that those who wanted to attend had the opportunity.

"The students thought it was great," said Karen Greene, career development facilitator for Mabry Junior High School in Inman. "They really enjoyed exploring the clusters and talking with 'real people.'"