By: Mahalia Smith
The Career Fair drew many students, schools and companies. Colorful booths lined the MUC ballroom as students and alumni searched for internships, jobs and graduate school connections. Companies and schools were giving out free merchandise such as water bottles, pens, keychains and notebooks.
There were a total of 63 vendors at the Career Fair on Oct. 26. Eight of those were promoting APSU graduate studies. Prospective graduate students had the opportunity to apply to the program of their choice at the career fair and the $45 application fee was waived.
APSU was not the only graduate school represented. The University of Memphis, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Tennessee State University and several others were there.
Ashley Watson, a representative from Tennessee Tech University, was speaking to students about graduate studies.
“This is my first time in Clarksville,” Watson said. “The drive was beautiful, lunch was delicious and everyone has been really helpful.”
Watson said that students seemed to be more interested in a higher business degree than in other fields of study. It was Watson’s first time at an APSU career fair.
Organizations of many types were at the fair, including restaurants, law enforcement, healthcare and mental health services.
Two representatives from Centerstone, an organization that provides mental health care, were at the event.
Centerstone has been involved with APSU Career Fairs in the past. Centerstone representative Shannon Seegmiller is an APSU graduate.
“We have a school based program in Clarksville,” Seegmiller said. “We are also opening a new facility in Clarksville.”
Centerstone has centers in Tennessee, Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.
“We have a girls group home here in Clarksville and community support specialists,” representative Faith Smith said. “We have several APSU interns working with us. We also have a new program called Health Link.”
Health Link is a service available in Tennessee that delivers whole-person, integrated behavioral health and primary care coordination.
Charles Pace, an APSU alumnus, was looking for local small businesses with openings in technology. Pace said he was interested in “mainly tech, programming and IT.”
Pace said he found some interesting options at the career fair.
“Somebody was talking about anti-viral software,” Pace said. In the meantime, Pace he working on another project.“I am developing a website right now. I like the programming and hard code type of thing.”
The Fall Career Fair was the main event of Career Services week. For information about Career Services, please visit their office in MUC 210 and website, www.apsu.edu/careers.
