Collegian T he Cameron University
www.aggiecentral.com
Monday, February 24, 2020
Volume 102 Issue 4
Photo by Payton Williams
23rd Annual
Red River Career Expo Payton Williams
be looking for at the time,” Merrifield with representatives sitting or standing said. at tables and answering questions Managing Editor According to Merrifield, while the from interested attendees, a few of @YoureSoVanya number of businesses that present at the the employer booths offered larger From 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. expo hasn’t varied much, this year, the presentations. 20, The Cameron University Office of event benefitted from an increase in the Some booths even featured games and Student Development hosted the 23rd turnout of interested students and others other interactive elements to grab the annual Red River Career Expo in the seeking employment. attention of passers-by. Aggie Rec Center. “It was pretty equal to last year in Some of the presentations that stood The event featured presentations terms of out were EZ from various employers directed toward employers,” Go’s colorful Cameron Students and other community Merrifield prize wheel “I’m the catalyst that members seeking employment. said. “We that attendees connects the students with Sixty-one employers set up tables had maybe could spin for inside the Aggie Rec center for this three less the chance to the employer, and they do year’s Red River Career Expo, some booths or win gift cards the rest, and hopefully the coming from as far away as Florida and four less and vouchers magic happens. That’s not Arizona. booths, but for products The event is one of the largest yearly in terms of always the case, but for me, it’s sold at their events held and organized by the Office attendees, stores. about seeing a student have of Student Development in conjunction we actually Another confidence and develop some presentation with the Career Services office. doubled our Career Services Coordinator numbers.” that got a lot more professional skills.” Paula Merrifield organized much of The of attention —Paula Merrifield was the one the fair, and was also responsible for student Career Services Coordinator presented by recruiting businesses and employers for Development participation. office doesn’t representatives Merrifield said that the number of yet have a from the U.S. employers involved in the fair, as well full tally of the attendance for the expo, Army, who had brought a robot used for as the distances some of the employers but it’s currently estimated that more exploring hostile territory and defusing travel to present, depends on a number of than 400 students attended the event bombs. factors. over the three hours the event occurred. Attendees operated the robot, and “It really just depends on what the While most of the employers at the were challenged to use it to grab ping economy is like, or what they happen to expo kept their presentations simple, pong balls, and place them into an empty
ammunition case. Merrifield was very happy to see that some of the employers offered games, and other methods to engage attendees. “I think it’s really neat when they do have something interactive at their booth,” Merrifield said. “It helps break the ice with the students, and the students are usually pretty nervous at these events.” Merrifield also spoke about the impact she hopes the event has on Cameron University and in the Lawton Community. “We hope that students get jobs, that we’re connecting them,” Merrifield said. “I’m the catalyst that connects the students with the employer, and they do the rest, and hopefully the magic happens. That’s not always the case, but for me, it’s about seeing a student have confidence and develop some more professional skills.” After the Red River Career Expo, the next big event for the Student Development Office is the Inclusion and Leadership Summit, which will take place on March 27. For more information on the Red River Career Expo, and for any information on upcoming events and professional development opportunities for students, contact the Office of Student Development at (580) 581-2209. Photos by Stacie Larsen
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