Teaching, media: more from the career fair

Teaching professions were a highlight at the 2025 Fall Career Fair. (Panther photo by Rayquan Hankins)

Teachers are the future

By MYAH BURT

If there are no teachers, students can’t get jobs because no one is there to educate. Teachers are needed badly, Natasha Grigg said.  

Grigg, an administrator at Lakewood High School, and Claflin students gathered Sept. 18 for the Fall Career Fair in the student center. The annual event connects students with professionals from various career paths.  

Teaching professions were a highlight this year. With tables such as Teach for America, Sumter School District and City Year, the possibilities were abundant.  

Tronquez Fuller, a sophomore elementary education major, visited the Sumter School District table. He expressed excitement about the internships at hand.  

“There's 15 elementary schools within the school district. That's a lot of elementary schools, which shows that there are a lot of opportunities and resources to fund all those schools,” Fuller said. “So I can be sure that I will have a huge impact on the kids' lives.” 

Fuller said teachers are so vital and influential because they are around children the most.  

Grigg cited misconceptions about teaching.  

“Pay. Or there is not enough money, but at 21, making $50,000, $60,000 is great money,” Grigg said.. “One of the things that students don't really think about is the extra money you can also make. The more education you get, the higher your salary is.” 

Grigg said extracurricular activities can add an extra stipend, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. 

Claflin has been a hot spot for teaching professionals. They have had an impact on the field of education.

Alexandria Smith, a sophomore biology major, plans to do just that.  

“I want to own a STEM school in the inner city. It's called Jump Start and it's K through 12, focused on chemistry, biology, technology. Anything to get students excited to go into STEM.” 

Smith explained why she wants to be a teacher and how change begins with education.  

“We don't see a lot of Black males or Black women in science, let alone science education. So if we can't get excited in STEM, we're not going to want to get to STEM. I want to inspire young minorities to enter the STEM field.” 

The future looks bright for students at Claflin who hope to make a difference in the lives of the next generation.  

“If I want to make a change in my community and those around me, the best way to do it is to become a teacher,” Fuller said.

Bethany Scriven is a mass communications major concentrating in digital media.

Wanted: More media opportunities

By KEN WHITE III

Career fairs at Claflin University aim to connect students with meaningful employment opportunities, but they fall short for some, including a mass communications major.

Many of the represented companies at the Fall Career Fair are focused on education, business, marketing and public relations. Digital media and artistry have little presence.

Bethany Scriven, a mass communications major concentrating in digital media, described her frustration with the lack of representation.

“With the lack of opportunities and employment opportunities for mass comm majors when it comes to career fairs … I will say it’s kind of stressful and a little disheartening,” Scriven said.

Scriven said her concentration involves behind-the-scenes media production such as camera work, editing and visual storytelling. She doesn’t see these areas represented at the fairs.

“I mostly work with production and camera and not seeing a lot of jobs that deal with that sort of sucks and is disheartening. Sometimes I’ll see companies offering communications, marketing or public relations jobs — but that doesn’t necessarily target my field. It would be better if companies like WIS or ABC from Columbia, South Carolina, attended our fairs,” she said.

Scriven said the gap in opportunities has discouraged her from attending the events. “Every time I look at the companies, it’s nothing related to mass comms or digital media. It just feels like there’s no space for us.”

As to how things can change, Scriven pointed to past initiatives as beneficial. She recalled a forum led by Roxy Aspo, designed specifically for mass communication majors.

“I applaud Claflin University for providing that, but more can definitely be done. Mass comm students deserve expanded opportunities in internships, shadowing and connections with media outlets.”

Scriven had other suggestions

“We could be taking trips to CNN or partnering with local news networks like WIS, WOLO, Jeno 25 or WLTX. Through the development center, students could secure chances to shadow at newspapers, TV stations and production companies. That would be a resource for us, instead of us having to solely rely on personal connections.” 

The career fair was held in the student center ballroom on Sept. 18.

'Once-in-a-lifetime experience'

 By KOREY MCCASKILL

Claflin University’s Career Week took place Sept. 15-18, allowing students to be equipped with the right tools, tips and tricks to be successful in competitive industries and Fortune 500 companies.

The week included the Fall Career Fair, which took place in the student center on Thursday, Sept. 18.

Sophomore Jada Duncan urged students to participate in the event and encouraged others not to miss the opportunity.

“It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Whether you're a freshman or a senior, it's always good to expand your knowledge on your career and your future job opportunities,” Duncan said.

She also advised students to “come as you as you are, be yourself and make sure you dress professional.”

As Duncan was encouraging freshmen and seniors to participate, two freshmen had already taken advantage of the opportunity.

Kendric Arthur described the event as “very powerful.” He and freshman Adriana Glover cited its importance.

“Primarily, I believe it's important because it gives us an opportunity to see what jobs we are looking for and what qualities we need to possess to be employable,” Arthur said.

In preparation for the career fair, Arthur and Glover participated in career week events such as the industry mixer, which allowed students to have a sit-down conversation with CEOs and business executives.

“I was able to connect with professionals from many industries and I really gained some insightful information that would help me in the future,” Glover said. “It was so interesting sitting down talking to a business executive and letting them inspire us and tell us what we need to do, that was just very powerful.”

Career fair: opening doors

By QAELA WILLIAMS

Freshmen, seniors and adults: Claflin students gathered at the Sept. 17 Fall Career Fair to meet with employers about opportunities and internships.

A recruiter from Lancaster County School District highlighted the general meaning of the event.

“A career fair is important because it exposes …. students to opportunities that are available and opportunities that students may not be aware of,” the recruiter said.

She shined light on HBCUs and student opportunity.

“Yes, they should take the opportunity,” she said. “I’m a product of an HBCU as well, so definitely take advantage of any opportunity that’s within this.”

Freshman psychology major Kamari Hanes said, “So, I am a psychology major. There are a lot of broad options I can do. It’s not a very specific field, so the career fair shows me what all I can do with my major,” Hanes said.

Amid the bustling noise, Hanes said, “It’s just nice to see all the tables and being able to talk to them, it’s very helpful.

Blessing Mojekwu, a sophomore biochemistry major, focused on internships.

“I think the career fair is really beneficial because I am trying to get an internship, which can potentially move to a job in the future, Blessing said. “I’ve met so many companies here who I think I could actually work with and I’m just hopeful I can actually get some opportunities from here.”

Blessing said the event is important for Claflin students.

“I think a career fair is important to make connections because you never know where you could find yourself, and it could be the connections you make today that could help you in the future,” Blessing said. “It is beneficial because sometimes the playing field isn’t equal for Black students and coming to the career fair could put you on the map for some organizations.”

(Panther photo by Samariah Wilson)

Fall Career Fair: pros and cons

 By SAMARIAH WILSON

The Claflin Fall Career Fair links students with resources, career options and expert advice, but not all students found it relevant or beneficial to their major. 

The event was held Sept. 18 at the Claflin student center. More than 50 employers were present.

Faith Burgess and Devan Jordan, Claflin sophomores, were interviewed about the fair and expressed their experiences  

Devan Jordan, a sophomore majoring in sports management, said the career fair was more beneficial to others than for him. “They had more jobs for other pathways and careers.”

Jordan said students majoring in biology had more options. One of his friends, a biology major, was able to connect with several companies at the fair. 

Faith Burgess, a sophomore majoring in criminal justice with a minor in physiology, has mixed feelings about the event. She said that while it was beneficial in offering information about internships outside her major, it wasn’t particularly helpful for her personally.

"It was beneficial because you had an opportunity to learn about internships not related to your major," Burgess said, "but not beneficial because there wasn’t anything for me." 

She noted there was an FBI table, but that’s not the path she wants to take with her career. 

Although the opportunities didn’t align with their majors, both sophomores said they were able to engage with other tables at the fair to explore internship possibilities  

Even though Jordan didn’t find any companies related to his major, he said the fair was well-organized.

Burgess suggested that the fair could be better organized by grouping career opportunities related to specific majors closer together. 

Devan Jordan and Faith Burgess hope that future career fairs will feature more opportunities aligned with their majors.

Career fair teaches lessons

By SOULANNI LYNN

Claflin’s Fall Career fair was an eye-opening experience and an important step in preparing for the future, a Claflin junior said.

Latrice Brown, who majors in business administration, was among hundreds of students turning out Sept. 18 at the student center for the event. More than 50 prospective employers were on hand.

“The career fair gave me a chance to really network and build professional connections,” Brown said. “I spoke with several employers I had never heard of before, and many of them were looking for students with skills I already have. That gave me a lot of confidence.”

Brown said the event was not just for learning about job opportunities, but also for practicing essential professional skills.

“Talking to recruiters helped me get more comfortable introducing myself and explaining my goals,” she said. “It felt like a real-world test run for future interviews.”

As to her biggest takeaway, Brown highlighted the importance of preparation and follow-up.

“I learned that doing research on companies before the fair makes a huge difference,” she said. “And sending thank-you emails afterward really helps you stand out.”

Overall, Brown described the career fair as a motivating experience that left her feeling more focused on her career path.

“Events like this show how many doors are open to us as Claflin students,” she said. “It reminded me that our futures are closer than we think — we just have to take that first step.”

‘Very informative’ event

GABRIELLE RICE

Claflin University hosted its annual career week, giving students opportunities to connect with different employers and companies to sharpen professional skills, and explore different pathways toward success.

This career fair week featured resume workshops and a campus-wide career fair, held in Claflin’s new student center, where students walked around and engaged with recruiters from different companies standing for their brand. The goal of career fair was to prepare students for life after graduation and ensure they leave Claflin ready.

Reagan Jackson, a student who attended the career fair, said the experience was eye-opening and beneficial.

“Attending was very informative,” Jackson said. I was able to explore different career options and make connections with potential companies that I was interested in.”

For Reagan and others, the career fair was more than just a chance to hand out a resume. It was a chance to practice professionally, build confidence and gain the exposure to employers.

Faculty encouraged students to use career day as a steppingstone, reminding students that career development is a continuous process. At the end of the fair, students walk away with new contacts, good interview tactics and sense of direction for their career.

‘I am not discouraged’

By REBEKAH BISHOP

Claflin University hosted its 2025 Fall Career Fair on Sept. 18 in the student center ballroom.

The event, organized by the university’s Office of Career Development, featured more than 50 companies, agencies and organizations presenting job and internship opportunities to students. Students were encouraged to attend in professional attire and could earn community service hours for participation.

For some students, the event provided helpful access to job options in public service and health care. However, others expressed concern over the limited number of creative industry opportunities.

Will Davis, a senior art education major, said he was hoping to see more employers offering roles in visual design or creative media.

“I wanted to speak with companies that had graphic design or content-creation roles,” Davis said. “But most of the tables were for teaching or government-related jobs.”

Davis said that while he is open to pursuing a career in education, he still hopes to find opportunities that align with this interest in design.

“I’m not discouraged, but I do think creative majors need more direction when it comes to career development,” he said.