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Clarion Call CLARION UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1913
DECEMBER 6, 2012 VOL. 99 ED. 12
Students learn skills for job employment Rachel Farkas STAFF WRITER
CLARION, PA. - The brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon hosted a one-of-a-kind career development competition Thursday, Nov. 29 in Hart Chapel. “Hired or Fired” was a competition to see which contestants are the most professionally prepared based on their resume, elevator speech, attire and interview. Recognized student organizations and recognized university organizations sponsored 12 students to participate in the event. Erin Lewis, assistant director of Career Services, emceed the competition. Zach Motyl, sponsored by the Theta Xi fraternity, won first place in the competition. Greg Jacobs came in second, and Maddie Robinson won third place. Motyl received a Pepsi gift basket with more than $120 worth of professional development items; the sponsoring organization of the first place winner also received $100. Motyl said he was excited to win representing Theta Xi and apart of the university because it shows how well Clarion had prepared him for the job market. “You come and do four years, not just to
Alizah Thornton / The Clarion Call
“Hired or Fired” first-place winner Zach Motyl (far right) stands with his fellow contestants. get an education, but to get a job,” he said. “Hired or Fired” was judged by three local professionals: Todd MacBeth, principal of Clarion Area Elementary; Jim Crooks, owner of F.L. Crooks & Co: and Pam Watkins, site administrator of PA CareerLink.
In addition, participants’ resumes were judged and scored by another group of local professionals and one university professor before the event began. The first round of the competition was the elevator speech, which is a 30-second speech meant to introduce
and promote yourself to a potential employer. It is a way to “make yourself stand out in a crowd,” Lewis said. Contestants were judged based on their on eye contact, poise and confidence in this round. The elevator speech scores were combined with the resume scores to give
the students their combined first round scores. After the elevator speech, five of the 12 contestants were eliminated. Once the eliminated contestants were revealed, the audience could text in an immunity vote to keep their favorite person of the five. In the second round, the
contestants were judged on their professional attire. Proper attire was judged on maturity, fit and overall appropriateness. For this round, Lewis individually announced the contestants’ names and what they were wearing while the contestant promenaded around the stage to show off their attire to the judges. After the second round, there was another elimination and only five of the original 12 contestants were left. Contestants Maddie Robinson, Greg Jacobs, Brett Ferringer, Zach Motyl and Ryan Greguric received high enough scores to make it to the final round, the interview. Contestants came out one by one and chose two slips of paper, each containing one question, from a container and gave them to Lewis, who then read the two questions aloud. Contestants were judged on the fluidity, conciseness, content and clarity of their responses. Lewis said events like these are important to help students see the value of professional development throughout their college careers. “It’s important because it really does help students to see the importance of professional development in a fun way,” she said.
NRHH inducts members Justin Costa STAFF WRITER
Justin Gmoser / The Clarion Call
Holiday lights line Main Street in Clarion.
CLARION, PA. - Members from the Clarion University National Resident Hall Honaray inducted Clarion University students Terri Lynn Clark, Larry Wigner III, Kelly Walton and Madeline into the society on Sunday, Dec. 2. The ceremony kicked off with members in the NRHH discussing what the group is about and the group’s history. The NRHH, established in 1964, is organized locally on individual campuses and is an organization based on leadership. The group recognizes organizations, students, leaders, staff and anything that has to do with residence life.
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Student media groups hold 48-hour broadcast. FEATURES PAGE 5
Gloriana performs during fall Campus Fest. ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 8
Women’s volleyball loses regional semifinals. SPORTS PAGE 10
News Opinion Features Classifieds Puzzles & Comics Arts & Entertainment Sports Standings
Members of the group submit “Of the Month” personal recommendations; the members vote on the OTMs, and the winner gets an award. Some of the winners go on to a regional or a national level so that they can win across the country. After the members were done speaking, the inductees came up in front of everyone as they were handed their certificates and took an oath as they were sworn into the NRHH. “The induction ceremony is very prestigious as NRHH is only the top 1 percent of the campus and so we have a max of 20 members” said Chairperson Bethany Crum. “It’s an honorary organization; it’s not like anyone can join. It’s a very select few. It’s very exciting,” Crum said.
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