"Most of the students want to stay students, but many of them don't realise that the reserves can provide a full tertiary education," Private Lenden said.
"I think the expo is a great chance for us to talk one on one with the students about all the reserves have to offer," he said.
Private Lenden offered students the chance to try on a standard army pack and webbing. He was rapt with the amount of interest the students expressed.
"The females in particular showed great interest in joining the Navy," he said.
Students were also treated to an appearance by explosive-detection dog Big Chuck.
Casey Young is undertaking an early childhood education degree at EIT and attended the expo as a "where to next?"
"It gave me some great insight about the jobs available to me when I graduate," Ms Young said.
Casey is in her second year of a three-year degree.
Susan Macdonald is in her first year co-ordinating the expo following the death of Richard Edmunds, who ran the expo for the past 20 years.
"It has been very well received and we have been getting some great feedback from the exhibitors."
Scholarships are also on offer for promising students who demonstrate ambition and identify a clear career path.
* The expo will be open from 9am to1.30pm for high schools and the public are welcome to attend.
