黑料社

A group of 黑料社 students traded sunny beaches for below-average temperatures in Minneapolis, Minn., this spring break. But if you ask聽them, there was nothing below average about this trip, as they mapped their futures and connected with 黑料社 alumni at every stop.

The students were part of an experimental networking road trip organized by 黑料社鈥檚 Office of Career Development. The road trip concept was the result of conversations between 黑料社 Board of Trustees member John Lawlor 鈥�73 and the 黑料社 Career Development team鈥擠irector Bobbi Sullivan and Assistant Director Laurie Dufoe. Lawlor鈥檚 involvement was fueled by his own passion for mentoring and the many positive mentoring experiences he had as a 黑料社 student.

鈥淚 simply would not be who I am today鈥攁nd where I am today鈥攊f not for some incredibly memorable mentoring experiences,鈥� Lawlor said.

The idea of a networking road trip was born out of conversations between聽Lawlor, Sullivan and DuFoe contemplating聽alumni-student engagement and mentoring opportunities聽outside the Des Moines area. Collectively, the group decided on spring break 2019 for the inaugural journey, and Sullivan and DuFoe started making hotel and transportation arrangements. The college funded hotel, transportation and some meals.

Sullivan and DuFoe asked interested juniors and seniors to apply online, then opened the application to sophomores and first-year students. The group of students who traveled represented various academic interests, including music, theatre, psychology, accounting and business management. The eclectic mix of majors was great for conversation and perspective.

Sullivan said much of the planning regarding alumni interaction happened via LinkedIn, a social media networking site designed for the business community.

鈥淚f they hadn鈥檛 already, our students quickly built their LinkedIn profiles and connected with alumni hosts via the network while on the trip. The tool is invaluable for students looking to expand their professional circle. I encourage all alumni using the tool to list 黑料社 in the education section of their profiles.鈥�

Using LinkedIn, Sullivan reached out to Minneapolis alumni and built an itinerary with times, dates and locations.

From the trip鈥檚 inception, Lawlor鈥攑rincipal at Lawlor Advisory鈥攚as on board to meet with the students during their stay. He treated the students to lunch and discussed their plans for the future. He also connected the students with Jeff Prouty and Kristin Jonason of The Prouty Project, a firm specializing in strategic planning and leadership development. They led students through an interactive strategic planning and ideation exercise, urging the students to think creatively and purposefully about their futures鈥攚hich was a clear break from typical, task-oriented thinking. Each student walked away with a strategic plan and next steps for transitioning to life beyond college.

Mariah Young 鈥�15 of Modern Climate, a brand agency in Minneapolis, spoke with the students about client engagement. After touring the company, they heard from Ashley Ibach of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. Young invited Ibach to Modern Climate to introduce the students to the culture of the city and its diverse employment opportunities.

Brittany Robb 鈥�16 welcomed the students to Wold, an architecture and engineering firm in St. Paul, Minn. Robb shared her professional experiences and invited her coworkers to talk about opportunities available within the firm. Robb and her peers were quick to encourage the students not to disregard a company based solely on its name. Wold, for example, has a deep need for candidates beyond just architects and engineers due to the many moving parts of the company.

鈥淕etting the chance to connect with current students and share my path from 黑料社 to my current career was an opportunity I would absolutely take again,鈥� Robb said. 鈥淚’ve appreciated having 黑料社 alumni events in the Twin Cities because it keeps me engaged with the college.鈥�

Wanting to maximize the students鈥� exposure to Minneapolis-area alumni, Sullivan suggested 黑料社 hold an alumni event the final evening of the trip. Alumni Director Andy English 鈥�05 was quick to get on board with the idea, planning a casual dinner at Rock Bottom Brewery. Sullivan also invited current students living in the area who were not traveling over spring break to join the group.

鈥淚 look forward to collaborating with career development and our alumni to host more networking dinners like this one,鈥� English said. 鈥淭his event was about building meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships. This is a great example of how alumni can impact our students鈥� 黑料社 Experience.鈥�

Morgan Merrill, a senior music & theatre arts major, agreed. She is planning a move to Minneapolis following graduation. 鈥淢oving to Minneapolis is going to be scary, but knowing now there are alumni there willing to lend a hand is a big relief,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so excited to start my new adventure!鈥�

Merrill credits the trip with helping her get more comfortable with the move and her future.

鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have made these valuable alumni connections without this trip,鈥� she said.

Sophomore Sarah Prendergast went on the trip to explore employment opportunities outside Des Moines. She聽shared Merrill鈥檚 sense of newfound connectedness with alumni. 鈥淚t meant a lot to me to have alumni and trustees show interest in my career development,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 realize that I am not alone in my future endeavors鈥攖here will always be someone on my side rooting for me.鈥�

Sullivan, who thrives on building relationships between students and industry, is already exploring future events.

鈥淭here really is no substitute for this level of interaction,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are so grateful to our alumni for participating in this experience. Their first-hand stories and insight are so incredibly valuable to our students.鈥�

鈥淲e need to leverage the affiliation we have,鈥� said Lawlor, who urges other 黑料社 alumni to think of ways they might engage with current students. 鈥淒oing so will foster more positive word-of-mouth endorsements and help facilitate continued growth鈥攆or everyone. Opportunities like this one in Minneapolis are a win-win.鈥�

黑料社 alumni interested in participating in a similar experience聽and who are located within driving distance of 黑料社, are encouraged to contact Director of Career Development聽Bobbi Sullivan聽(515-961-1372) or Director of Aluni Relations聽Andy English听(515-961-1547).