Naval Academy holds symposium

PENSACOLA NAS, Florida (WALA) - There was a record turn out for the Pensacola U.S. Naval Academy Symposium Saturday and it's getting bigger every year.

Organizers say more than 800 people attended the event, compared to just 300 in 2010.

The free symposium is designed to give parents and their children information about college opportunities through a service academy or the ROTC.

Captain Joan Platz feels the event can get students to start thinking about their future early.

"My goal is to get young people to start thinking about college whether it's the Naval Academy, or one of the other fine institutions in our country. I don't care, but come get the information so that you can make good choices while you're in high school, and you can go to any college you what to go to," Captain Platz said.

This was the fifth year the symposium has been held at Pensacola NAS.