Seniors walking into Comanche Suites Tuesday afternoon were able to complete everything necessary to make graduating possible in May. The Imagine Graduation Fair was taking place to give seniors a leg up on the requirements they would have to complete to graduate.
Organizations and different interest groups were there to give seniors career options once they graduate.
One of the groups at the fair, the Young Professionals, wanted to prepare seniors for their lives after college with networking opportunities in Wichita Falls and surrounding areas. Students who registered with the Young Professionals were given an opportunity to receive a free membership. Two representatives with the program, Candace Berg, a graduate in accounting, and Allison St. John, a graduate in marketing, received jobs from the networking system provided through the Young Professional’s program.
Interest groups were just one part of the experience offered at the fair. Seniors got to buy caps, gowns, tassels and other memorabilia.
“The prices we offer are cost efficient and seniors can buy extras they might need,” Laura Holiday, senior in social work and representative for the book store, said.
Those who went to the event said they appreciated the opportunity to take care of some of the details surrounding graduation.
“It really feels wonderful after four years of hard work,” Kalynn Smith, senior in English, said. “The fair was a lot better than I thought it would be.”
For most of the seniors in attendance the event was simply a way to grab what they needed and leave.
“It’s been a long time coming” Kelsey Shaffer, senior in exercise physiology, said. “I didn’t have much expectations of the fair, but I found it informative.”
There were several departments at the fair designed to help completing graduation requirements easier for seniors. Students walked along the information tables gathering what they needed to make graduation a possibility. For many students it was a symbolic moment of the hard work they put into school.
Alumni returns to campus
After spending a year away from imagine graduation Ariana Persaud, MSU alum, had to come back. She graduated in 2011 and now works at Crosby High School in Houston as a science teacher.
“I knew that this is about the time that imagine graduation happens so I timed my visit with it,” Persaud said. “I asked if it was taking place and said to put me down because I’ll volunteer to work it.”
She starting working the alumni booth for imagine graduation in 2007. Persaud said that when she worked at the booth before she would tell welcome students into the alumni association.
“At that time I wasn’t even an alumni. Now I am one and it’s even better,” Persaud said.
