By: Mackenzie Byerlee
Features Editor
The “Southern Edge Fair” brought outside vendors and university clubs together to show students the importance of networking face-to-face. Held in the Adanti Student Center Ballroom on Oct. 28, the fair aimed to get students connected with companies and university organizations to understand the actions they will need to take to get a job in the future.
Graduate Intern of the Office of Career and Professional Development Heidi Atuaful shared that the fair allows students to apply the skills they have learned in real world settings.
“It’s really important to get learning outside of the classroom too to just figure out what you want to do with your life,” Atuaful said.
The ballroom was filled with tables for students to visit and meet those that could help them potentially get a job later on. The Officer of Career and Professional Development put this event together with a focus on exposing students to experiential learning.
“Experiential learning is massive; sometimes we think of experiential learning as just an internship or a clinical placement but it also exists in clubs, organizations and leadership positions around campus,” Associate Director of the Office of Career and Professional Development Aimee O’Shea, said.
The Officer of Career and Professional Development has a multitude of services available for students regarding their futures. They offer workshops, individual meetings and employer events such as various fairs that they hold throughout the semester.
With such easily accessible resources, students are able to receive the support they need when it comes to figuring out their lives after college.
Finance major Tanner Rooney, a sophomore, said that he appreciated the opportunity to connect with people in person.
“Networking is the biggest part,” Rooney said. “I just wanted to meet people, see the different opportunities and get my name out there a little bit earlier.”
While Rooney shared that he is not looking for anything quite yet, he recognized that it is never too early to meet potential employers.
The “Southern Edge Fair” also brought in vendors including Target, Coca-Cola and the YMCA to show students the wide range of options they have after graduation.
Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies Jennifer Sparano was representing the university’s graduate programs and showcasing the importance of higher education.
“We want students to know that the graduate school is here and that they could possibly stay at Southern and be either a double or a triple Owl,” Sparano said.
The university offers over 100 graduate programs and certifications, giving students even more options if they choose to continue their education after completing their undergraduate studies.
Whether students were looking for volunteer opportunities, ways to get involved on campus, future jobs or higher education options, the “Southern Edge Fair” had something for everyone.
“This is something where students can explore the opportunities that exist right here in our own home, our community, our campus,” O’Shea said. “I hope that students leave with someone to contact for an experiential learning opportunity or at least knowing that it exists.”
