Approximately 2,000 high school sophomores and juniors from 28 school districts in the La Crosse area attended the La Crosse Center's Career Expo October 7, 2008.  The Career Expo was a joint effort of the Greater La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, Western Wisconsin Technical College, the Wisconsin Education Fair and area high schools.

There were 50 different booths which focused on six career clusters including: Agri-Business Science Technology & Natural Resources; Arts, Humanities & Communication; Business Management, Administration & Marketing; Health Care; Human Services & Education; and Industrial Science & Manufacturing Technologies. 

Heidi Keuler from the Service's La Crosse National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office spoke to an ethnically diverse array of approximately 80 students about the career of a fishery biologist. Students viewed a video of jumping silver carp and interviews of biologists from the Service's La Crosse Service Resource Center that received national coverage.  This video as well as a slide show sparked a discussion in which students asked questions during an informal discussion.  Budding biologists also got up close and personal with a mounted silver carp and a preserved small lake sturgeon which sparked even more interest.  In addition, the young adults gained insight from photos taken of fishery biologists in the field. Many students were very interested in the STEP, SCEP, and volunteer programs.