Local students on Thursday had the opportunity to speak with representatives from 58 colleges and universities from around the Southeast at the annual PROBE College Fair Tour, hosted at Bradwell Institute.

Liberty County High School, First Presbyterian Christian Academy and, of course, Bradwell all were represented at the fair, as students from LCHS and FPCA were transported to the event. The fair was open to all area students, though, including home-schooled children and students from other area private schools.

According to Greg Cooke, school liaison officer for Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield, the PROBE fair is a long-standing tradition in Liberty County.

“I graduated from Bradwell in 2000, and they had (the fair) then,” he said, noting that until three years ago, the event was hosted on Fort Stewart.

“We started hosting it here at Bradwell about three years ago … we have a space here that’s large enough to really make it an effective event for both Bradwell and Liberty students,” BI Principal Scott Carrier added.

“Whatever you’re looking for, it’s here,” Cooke said, noting the diversity of schools represented.

Recruitment officers from the University of Georgia, University of Alabama, Auburn, Mercer, Appalachian State and a host of smaller state colleges and universities were on hand, offering students information on their schools’ programs and opportunities.

Local schools Savannah State University, Savannah Technical College, Armstrong State University and Georgia Southern University also were represented.

Henry Hebert, an enrollment counselor at Armstrong, said that traveling across the state and region to participate in recruiting events is an integral part of his job.

“Pretty much from the beginning of September to the end of November, I’m on the road,” he said, adding that Maryland is the furthest he travels.

“We’ll be in Camden County tonight, then in Brunswick tomorrow,” Hebert said.

According to the PROBE website, the fair is a “key way to connect with prospective students.”

“I think that PROBE is the best way for students to come learn about as many colleges as they’re interested in,” said Clint Hobbs, a recruiter with Young Harris College in Northeast Georgia. “Second to the campus visit, it’s the best way for them to equip themselves with enough information about a particular college to make a decision on whether or not they want to actually go visit that college, or maybe whether they want to apply to that college.”

Bradwell will have a follow-up event Nov. 20, when BI students will have the opportunity to use their school’s computer labs to apply to colleges.