Students explored a wide range of career paths last week as the college hosted its annual Career Fair, where employers offered internships, entry-level positions, and post-graduate opportunities.
The event brought representatives to Franklin Hall from education, healthcare, social-work, law enforcement, and transportation, each with new opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Advise VA, a public service program that helps low-income and first-generation high school students navigate the college application process, was among the crowd.
“We place recent college graduates in one of 73 schools across the state as college or pathways advisors,” said Gerald, a representative for Advise. “They take the senior class and make sure that every member of the class is graduating with a plan with what they want to do afterwards and have taken steps to get there. We do all sorts of things from one-on-one advising, field trips, college rep visits.”
The program offers paid service positions for graduates looking to gain hands-on experience in advising, leadership, and education, while making a direct impact in high schools across Virginia.
Healthcare and public safety opportunities were also heavily featured. Jonathan Watkins, a resource officer recruiting for Carilion Clinic Police and Security, highlighted the organization’s growth and need for compassionate professionals.
“I’m here recruiting for Carilion Clinic Police and Security,” Watkins said. “Because we are such a big hospital, we have tons of different fields and vast employment opportunities that are always growing. On the police and security side, we are looking for people who want to serve with compassion and help take care of our patients, while making sure our staff has a safe place to work.”
Watkins noted that positions within the healthcare system range from security roles to a variety of support and administrative careers, providing students with opportunities for both immediate employment and long-term career growth.
Students interested in business, travel, and logistics found opportunities with Black Tie Transportation. Jeff Beverly described the company’s broad transportation services and expanding reach.
“We are involved in transporting people; anyone from small vehicles, SUV’s, all the way up to 56 passenger buses,” Beverly said. “We transport people all over the East Coast, up into Canada, out west, wherever people need to go. Our main office is in Winston-Salem, with another in Raleigh.”
With operations spanning multiple states and even into Canada, the company offers students opportunities in operations, driving, logistics coordination and business management.
The Career Fair served as more than just a networking event; it gave students direct access to internships, service programs and career pathways in growing industries.
Whether students are preparing to graduate or just beginning to explore their options, the career fair showcased the many professional opportunities available within our community.
