Presbyterian College hosted a Career and Graduate School Fair on Oct. 24, drawing more than 90 students and more than 30 recruiters from various companies and institutions.

Students of all class years met with potential employers, discussing internships, job openings, and further education opportunities. Many recruiters, including alumni, praised students for their energy and curiosity.

“I heard from several employers that they enjoy meeting our students for their energy and curiosity,” said Kim Lane, associate dean of students and director of career and professional development. “Many organizations have returned to the campus, like BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and World Finance. We also gained new companies like Lonza and Henkel — national and global companies right in our backyard.”

Charles Kearse, a talent acquisition manager from BlueCross BlueShield, had high praise for the career fair.

“The staff were very friendly and helpful, creating a welcoming atmosphere,” he said. “I had the opportunity to engage with a variety of students from different majors, and I found them to be approachable and respectful. They demonstrated a strong understanding of the career paths they were interested in pursuing and asked insightful questions to explore potential fits. Additionally, I interacted with several faculty members who were equally engaged and eager to learn about the opportunities BCBS can provide for their students.

PC alumni represented several organizations, such as Milliken and Waffle House, sharing insights from their own career journeys. “A former biochemistry major is now moving from a lab environment to inside sales for his company, and another biology major has moved into management, showing that a liberal arts degree is both valuable and versatile,” Lane added.

The fair also showcased Tartan Threads, the college’s career clothing closet, which offers students professional attire donated by the local community, alumni, faculty, and even students.

“This service has been well received,” Lane said. “You can see students’ confidence build as they select quality clothing for career-related events.”

Lane said her office continuously collects gently-used clothing to replenish its inventory and always welcomes donations from the community and alumni, faculty, and staff.

For many students, the fair was an eye-opening experience.

Junior Ryan Luna discovered the importance of creating connections with a variety of companies.

“Walking around the event hall and talking to everyone really reinforced that there are opportunities everywhere,” he said. “But in order to seize them, you have to show up and put yourself out there and expose yourself to businesses that are looking to help not only their business but also help you as a possible employee or intern learn the skills you need to grow into your specific career path.”

Junior Morvens Saint Jean, who received an interview invitation for a summer IT internship, shared, “Talking to everyone at the career fair helped me learn about the many opportunities each company has to offer, which may not be commonly known. For example, I wasn’t aware that Denny’s hires IT interns.”

Sophomore Denim Yadav, a computer science major, said he was “enlightened about how many career paths I can pursue with my degree.” Yadav applied to multiple companies for summer internships and spent the full two hours of the fair connecting with employers.

Faculty and staff also valued the event for its role in students’ professional growth. Women’s wrestling coach Brian Vutianitis emphasized the fair’s significance for student-athletes.

 “The skills they learn at these events, alongside the community built, are key to setting them up for long-term success beyond Presbyterian College,” he said.

With students gaining confidence and making professional connections, the fair underscored Presbyterian College’s commitment to preparing students for success in their careers and beyond.