Leadership Forum
The annual Leadership Forum was expanded to The Community Leadership Forum in September. McPherson business leaders and alums from the Leadership McPherson program were invited to attend a luncheon with student leaders. The featured speaker was Victor Gonzalez, a leader in high-tech telecommunications. Gonzalez, who grew up in the Chicago Projects on welfare, went on to receive an engineering degree and a MBA and eventually became a senior manager at several Fortune 500 companies. Gonzalez presented “The 5 Things Great Leaders Do” from his book “The Logic of Success”.
In February, Career Services partnered with Student Services and the Diversity Committee and invited the community to join the students to hear Brent Scarpo’s presentation “Journey to a Hate-Free Millenium”. Scarpo, a Hollywood casting director for “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Air Force One” produced a documentary that focused on 3 hate crimes – The Columbine High School shootings, the murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming and the dragging death of James Byrd in Texas. Scarpo spoke to the audience about the origins of hate and how to stop it. Scarpo spent an hour after his presentation meeting students and answering their questions. He also was the guest lecturer in several classes the next day.
Workshops
Career Services assisted students with job placement skills through an evening resume workshop held in September, resume writing and interviewing with all sophomores through the seminar system and credential file creation with Teacher Education students.
In the 2005 graduation survey, students indicated that they would have liked more information on graduate schools. In response, Career Services invited Amy Simon from Emporia State Graduate Studies to speak to students about how to find the right grad school, how to prepare for the GRE, how to apply and financial aid options. Because over 30 students attend this first time event, the Graduate School Workshop will be an annual workshop.
I-135 Opportunities Expo
The I-135 Career Expo was expanded in 2005 to include all of the ACCK schools and K-State Salina. The name was changed to the I-135 Opportunities Expo to reflect the fact that this was more than a career fair. Graduate and professional schools, internships, service opportunities and part-time employers were invited along with businesses that were offering career positions. Over 40 organizations and 50 students attended the event held at the Sports Center.
ACCK Teacher Interview Day
Teacher Education students participated in the ACCK Teacher Interview Day held at Bethany College. Over 60 administrators from Kansas and New Mexico interviewed over 80 prospective teacher candidates from ACCK Schools.
