COURTLAND—More than 500 students and parents attended the first College Night sponsored by Southampton High School on Oct. 5.

Organizer and guidance counselor Millie Gardner called the event a success.

“It was a springboard to start exploring options and making your top college choices to pursue and investigate,” Gardner said.

Admissions representatives from 54 colleges, mostly local and from as far away as Maine and Georgia, met with juniors and seniors.

Students asked representatives questions, including about admissions and course requirements. Students were interested in sports offered at colleges, campus life, organizations and activities, and housing.

Most students narrowed down choices of where to continue their education.

“I learned that a lot of colleges didn’t have the major I wanted. So, I was able to narrow down my first choice,” said senior Brittany Flowers, who wants to study early childhood education.

“I feel like it was a very successful night because I got more information meeting with them and talking to them than I learned on the Internet,” added Katie O’Donnell, who wants to become an ultrasound technician.

Of concern to the parents was financial aid and scholarship options.

“My family has the GI Bill,” said Maria Johnson, who is looking for a college with a strong forensic science program. “College Night told us that there are many schools out there that take the GI Bill, and we didn’t know that.”

College representatives said they were impressed with the students and number of parents in attendance. They felt students were well-prepared and asked good questions.