Future Ready Fest Brings Students, Families and Futures Together

Planning what comes after high school can feel overwhelming. Future Ready Fest makes it easier by bringing everything — and everyone — together in one place. More than 400 students and families gathered at Tyee High School to explore their after-graduation options.

The event featured more than 60 colleges, career programs, and community partners, including the University of Washington, Central Washington University, Paul Mitchell Beauty School and branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Each booth offered students and families a chance to connect, discover and imagine what’s possible.

“I brought both my daughters — one’s a senior, one’s starting at Tyee — to get help with financial aid and to show my freshman what pathways high school offers,” shared one parent. “It’s helpful seeing everything in one place.”

A highlight of the evening was the Financial Aid Center, where seniors and their families received one-on-one support completing the FAFSA and learning about scholarships. Staff guided families through forms and timelines, helping them understand that college and training programs can be affordable.

Future Ready Fest isn’t just for seniors. It’s for every student dreaming about what comes next. Middle school students came ready to get a head start, asking how their classes connect to future careers and what steps they can take now to reach their goals. Even elementary students and their families joined in, participating in fun, hands-on activities, with our college and career counselors, designed to spark early curiosity about future pathways.

"I attended Future Ready Fest tonight to support my sister, who is a senior, and to find out what options are available for students interested in music like me," shared Lacey F., a sixth-grader at Pacific Middle School.

“I attended Future Ready Fest to explore which schools offer a computer science pathway and start building connections for my future,” said Dewit W., a sophomore at Tyee High School.

From college admissions and scholarships to hands-on apprenticeships and military opportunities, Future Ready Fest gives families a chance to see that there’s more than one path to success — and that every student can find their own way forward.

We host the event annually to connect students and families with resources that make the future feel a little closer and a lot more possible.

At the end of the night, one message stood out: planning for the future doesn’t have to be done alone. Events like Future Ready Fest bring students, families and the community together to help every student take that next step with confidence.