ROB EARNSHAW

Times Correspondent

HOBART | Most college representatives incorporate PowerPoint and laptop demonstrations when advising students on their post-high school aspirations.

Matt Kalita on the other hand, brings along a bag of tricks.

Kalita, a high school presenter for Everest College, incorporated magic into his keynote speech to local high school seniors attending a college/job fair Monday at Avalon Manor. The highlight: a $5,000 Rope Challenge Escape in which three students were randomly chosen to tie Kalita up with rope. If he couldn't escape, the students would win the cash .

"I bill myself as the world's only extricationist," Kalita said. "I've been doing magic for 30 years and I decided to incorporate it into my presentations."

Before his Houdini-like rope escape, Kalita incorporated smaller-scale magic tricks while expressing to students the importance of planning their future now, not when they're "out on the street."

"This is a fantastic time for all of you," he said. "You guys have to figure out what you're good at and make it happen for you."

The three students chosen for the rope challenge were Brandon Calhoun and Mercedes Barber of Gary Roosevelt High School, and Kimberly Parish of Campagna Academy in Schererville.

Calhoun said the act was different and exciting from the usual college fair.

"I never thought I'd be part of a magic act," he said.

"It was tricky," added Barber, who plans to attend Purdue University.

Parish, who hopes to become a medical assistant, said the challenge "was cool."

Kalita was able to free himself from the rope trick in 28 seconds, but at least he allowed the students to face a challenge, one of many likely to come once they graduate.

The event, hosted by LocalCareerFairs.com, included representatives from Indiana Wesleyan University, Brown Mackie College, Indiana University Northwest and Ivy Tech Community College.

Businesses featured at the fair included Centier Bank, Choice DNA Laboratories, Opportunity Enterprises, and Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc.