2026 Brings Another Successful SPARK! Career Fair

This year’s SPARK! Student Career Awareness Fair has been another great success showcasing career paths for local high school students, The Patuxent Partnership says.

On March 25, 400 students from 11 schools in St. Mary’s and Calvert counties participated in the fourth annual career fair.

The Patuxent Partnership worked closely with NAWCAD, especially Stephanie Gleason, director of NAWCAD’s Strategic Education Office (SEO), who brought volunteers and exhibitors to the event.

Some late changes to participation, including Charles County’s withdrawal, led to a shift in attendance. But TPP was pleased to have strong engagement from homeschool groups and increased participation from other local schools.

St. Mary’s County was the primary attending partner this year.

SPARK! is not a job fair. It is an opportunity for these students to have an engaging experience while learning about careers in Southern Maryland and the paths required to get there.

There were 30 exhibitors, including seven NAWCAD divisions, Naval Surface Warfare Center- Indian Head, NAVAIR Business & Finance Operations Department, the Sheriff’s Office from St. Mary’s and Calvert County, USMSM Clark Engineering-Matrix Lab, and St. Mary’s County Department of Emergency Services, Calvert Health, MedStar Hospital, USBTA-UM Charles Medical Center, LEAP, College of Southern Maryland, and St Mary’s College of Maryland.

There were interactive, hands-on booths and activities operated by knowledgeable personnel. Students received first-hand insights into local career opportunities across STEM, finance, health care, and skilled trades, among other fields, from industry partners. The NAWCAD FabLab, the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative line truck, and the Bearcat, the CASPER Comms truck from Webster Outlying Field (WOLF) were popular.

“My deep appreciation goes to the many NAWCAD participants and collaborators whose dedication and hard work made SPARK! a resounding success. Special thanks to our Air Systems Group, Advanced Technologies Department, Atlantic Targets and Marine Operations Division, Fab Lab, WOLF, and my own Strategic Education Office (SEO) team. I recognize the significant time, energy, and creativity it takes to develop the engaging, hands-on displays that truly make an impact at an event of this scale. Thanks to their collective efforts, we were able to ignite curiosity and enthusiasm among middle and high school students, opening doors to future careers, internships, and apprenticeships with NAWCAD,” Ms. Gleason said. “Our partnership with TPP remains central to expanding workforce pathways and inspiring the next generation.”

Buses arrived with students from St. Mary’s, Calvert, Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center, volunteers organized and ushered students throughout the exhibits and labs at a pace that allowed for interactive engagement, hands-on activities, lots of questions, and a healthy lunch, before they were loaded up in their buses to return to their schools.

“Thank you to all who supported the 2026 TPP SPARK! Career Awareness event. These students have gained valuable insights into NAWCAD and many other careers and opportunities in Southern Maryland. Together, we inspired the next generation and strengthened the lifelines to our future workforce,” said Bonnie Green, TPP executive director.

Exhibitors

• Naval Surface Warfare Center NSWC Indian Head
• NAWCAD – Air System Group
• NAWCAD – Advanced Technologies Dept.
• NAWCAD – Atlantic Targets and Marine Operations (ATMO)
• NAWCAD – Fab Lab
• NAWCAD Strategic Education Office (SEO)
• US Naval Test Pilot School
• Naval Test Wing Atlantic (NTWL)
• Calvert Health Medical Center
• MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital
• UM Charles County Regional Medical Center
• LEAP Forward Inc.
• Maryland DNR
• Maryland Environmental Service
• SMECO
• Economic Development – Calvert County Government
• Economic Development – St. Mary County Government
• Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland
• Calvert County Sheriff’s Office
• St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office
• Altus Technology Solutions
• Precise Systems
• Resource Management Concepts
• Tekla Research
• CAO Barrett
• Naval System Inc. (NSI)
• CSM: Southern Maryland Engineering Partnership
• St. Mary’s College of Maryland
• University of Maryland
• University of Maryland Research and Operations Center

Participating Schools

• Calvert High School
• Huntington High School
• Northern High School
• Patuxent High School
• Great Mills High School
• Leonardtown High School
• Chopticon High School
• Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center
• King’s Christian Academy
• St. Michael’s Catholic School
• Little Flower School
• Home schooled

About The Patuxent Partnership

The Patuxent Partnership is a nonprofit member organization that fosters collaboration between government, industry, and academia to advance education through STEM-based initiatives; to advance technology through speaker programs, forums, and networking; to advance science and technology transfer through the exchange of ideas, information, and data related to technologies; and to increase workforce development through an array of initiatives.

SoMD 2030 is focused on building a STEM pipeline, increasing career opportunities. This collaborative effort is funded by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aviation Division. The Patuxent Partnership is accomplishing the work under an agreement with NAWCAD, working with St. Mary’s College of Maryland, College of Southern Maryland, area public school systems, as well as other schools, industry, and NAWCAD. SoMD 2030 connects talented students with paid apprenticeships and internships.

To learn more about The Patuxent Partnership and its programs, visit its Leader member page.