Fans Flood To DC's Awesome Con To Dress Up, Maybe Get A Government Job

WASHINGTON, DC — Thousands of pop culture fans descended on the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., over the weekend for 2022 Awesome Con.

The annual event provides a chance for fans to have their photo taken with their favorite TV or movie star, buy merchandise, and dress up as superheroes or fantasy characters.

Despite what some people may think about pop culture conventions, not everyone dresses up. Also, some of the people who set up booths aren't just selling merchandise, they are dispensing career advice, discussing the importance of STEM education, or even answering questions about internships or job opportunities.

The CIA first set up a table at the D.C. convention in 2019. The goal was to connect with people and maybe change some misconceptions about the agency, according to a CIA spokeswoman on Saturday. It was also an opportunity to make attendees aware of the more than 120 occupations the people could purse there, from logistics and finance to cybersecurity and human relations.

"We know that Awesome Con brings a lot of creative types and intellectuals," the spokeswoman said. "Talent is everywhere and we need creative problem solving to solve a lot of the problems that we face. We're here with a good presence just to talk to people, highlight some of those opportunities and some of the things that we have available at the agency."

April Lanotte, the STEM integration lead with NASA Aeronautics, was able to use her background as a teacher to help younger convention goers interested in studying science, technology, engineering and math.

"STEM education is really a kind of communications," she said. "We think about how to best communicate with our audience, and so I come up with a lot of lessons and activities."

On Saturday, young people visiting the NASA booth could build Mars helicopters out of marshmallows and toothpicks or learn how to download 3D print files, so they can make their own X-59 QueSST model aircraft.

"NASA is here to let people know what we're doing in terms of research, but how it can affect everyday people and the benefits that we have," Lanotte said. "At the same time, we want to inspire people to come and be a part of what we do."

At another booth, Javier Lopez of Gov Geeks was dressed as Waldo. He was there to answer questions about how to get a job with the federal government.

"There's more technical stuff like helping with resumes, interviews, things like that, strategic planning for your career growth, and then the other side more of the executive coaching," he said. "It's like how do I find fulfillment in my career?"