SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Networking and internships were the theme of the second annual Student Highlighting Luncheon held Wednesday at Penn State Schuylkill.
The event was sponsored by the campus Community Affairs Committee and brought 15 businesses to the school's Health & Wellness Center to meet with students.
"It's the opposite of job shadowing," committee Chairwoman Cathy Fiorillo said. "We bring businesses to our campus and we highlight some of our students that we feel excel in their area of discipline. Our goal is to get an internship for our students."
Fiorillo said 12 local businesses attended last year's event and 12 internships were given to students.
"It was pretty successful last year," Fiorillo said. "They're under no obligation to give students an internship but the hope is they will gain valuable connections, skills and advice."
Representatives looking to network or discuss internships with students were from the United Way, Child Development Inc., Mrs. T's, Saint Clair police, Schuylkill County public defender's office, Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency, Geisinger, Evans Trucking, Schuylkill County Council for the Arts and Alfred Benesch & Co.
Anne Mercuri, coordinator for Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State Schuylkill, said a student in her program was able to complete an internship at Child Development during the spring semester and this semester due to the first luncheon last year.
"It was advantageous for both Penn State students and Child Development," Mercuri said. "It's a good fit for our students. They get to learn a lot. Hopefully some of them will stay in the community after graduation and work within the community."
During the luncheon Wednesday, all in attendance, including business leaders, students and faculty and staff at Penn State Schuylkill, ate lunch then announced who they were and why they were at the luncheon.
After the introductions, the networking began.
Tina Rose, coordinator of student leadership, career development and community service at Penn State Schuylkill, said the event has been successful and she even had to turn some businesses away at the last minute since the event was full.
She said that it's a different kind of event that also allows the students to work on their soft skills, since many do not have a lot of face-to-face contact with businesses.
"I harp on them all the time about how one of the most important things to do in seeking a job and an internship is to network," Rose said.
Among the businesses in attendance, Sandra Coyle, SCCA executive director, said that she was attending the event seeking an intern.
SCCA is a local arts agency with its professional and volunteer staff dedicated to fostering growth in the art and ethic heritage of Schuylkill County, the SCCA website states.
Coyle said SCCA offers different classes and programs all year, recently holding an Edgar Allen Poe program.
"We do John O. Hara every year, so we would like to have a student work with us on that," Coyle said. "The arts contribute to economics."
Kevin Killian, Schuykill Haven, a sophomore IST major and Theater minor, said he was searching for an internship at the event and had previously met Coyle, having participated in the Poe reading.
"I was discussing looking for an internship to combine both of them because I really love theater, but I also love computers," Killian said.