The fourth annual Auburn Area Middle School Career Conference begins Thursday for eighth-grade students.

The conference schedule:

• Cascade Middle School, Thursday, 7:55-10 a.m.

• Rainier Middle School, Jan. 15, noon-1:55 p.m.

• Mt. Baker Middle School, Jan. 16, 11:50 a.m.-1:45 p.m.

• Olympic Middle School, Jan. 17, 12:15-2:10 p.m.

Eighth-grade students from Valley Christian School will participate in the event with students from Mt. Baker.

The Auburn School District, Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce and Communities in Schools of Auburn have united to encourage students to stay engaged in school, plan appropriate high school courses of study, graduate from high school on time, and set goals for successes beyond high school.

Earlier this month, students participated in career interest surveys to determine which career informational sessions they will attend during the conference.

The career conference begins with an assembly followed by five sessions with representatives from local businesses, high school programs, community and technical colleges, and four-year universities.

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