Career Day

Career Day Alumni, Students & Faculty Participate in Alumni Career Day 2022

The benefits of professional networking was demonstrated on January 28th during Alumni Career Day. Forty-three alumni returned to campus either in-person (38) or virtually (5) to share their experiences and give advice to 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. As always, the faculty played a key role in supporting the event and adding weight and perspective to the discussions as panel moderators.

The spirit of any school’s alumni community is vital, and Austin Prep’s alumni are particularly generous with their time, sharing hard-earned lessons from their own career journeys. The availability of our alumni as guides and counselors is an important part of what makes an Austin Prep education so valuable, not just during one’s school years, but throughout one’s life.

Dr. Hickey stressed the lifelong nature of being part of the Austin Prep family when, during his opening remarks to the students, he said, “You will hear from people further along in their journeys, with successful careers in various professions, who have returned to campus to share their experiences with you. I hope one day, you will return, too.”

Jennifer Leonardo ’05, RN, speaks with a student during the Career Fair

Alumni Career Day is designed to provide the maximum exchange of practical information, from big-picture panel discussions on a wide variety of careers to much more detail-oriented one-on-one conversations during the Career Fair. Everyone agreed that this year’s Alumni Career Day exceeded expectations. “This was the best organized Alumni Career Day with the widest range of career topics ever offered,” said panelist Joe Sciacca ’75, Enterprise Editor, 7News WHDH-TV. “And I’ve attended several of these at Austin Prep.”

Gianna Gravalese ’16, Entertainment and Lifestyle Reporter for NESN’s Dirty Water TV, remarked on the students’ knowledgeability, focus and motivation. students to be even more engaged in our conversations than I expected, which was very exciting.”

“The students had wonderful, inquisitive questions,” said David Salibian ’93 DMD, FICOI, Owner, Eye Smile in Belmont.

(To see just how carefully some students’ have mapped out their career plans, see “Passion & Preparation” in this issue.)

As noted, the range of careers represented this year was more comprehensive than ever. Students had the opportunity to attend two panel sessions that covered: Athletics, Broadcasting/ Media, Education, Engineering, Entrepreneurship/Business/ Finance, First Responders, Government Relations/Politics, Health & Wellness, Legal Services, Marketing/Communications, Military, Performing Arts, Real Estate/Sales, Sciences, Technology, and Writing/Journalism.

Taylor Vanderwoude-Anzidei ’08, Michael Mandell ’03, Jennifer Leonardo ’05, GIanna Gravalese ’16, and Michael Nuttall ’05

Chris Carbone ’93, Nate Fuller ’09, and Jamie Dooley ’92 speak with students, including Evan Blanco ’22, at the Career Fair

Kate McKendry ’05 and Gianna Gravalese ’16 during the Broadcasting/Media panel discussion Andrew Kiezula ’99, Rusty Jordan ’86 and Gianna Gravalese ’16 speak with students, including Madeline Hickey ’22, at the Career Fair

”Alumni Career day not only helped me navigate through the daunting task of choosing a career path but it also introduced me to people like Kate McKendry ’05 and Gianna Gravalese ’16 who are working in the field I want to explore. Their stories and experiences gave me the motivation I needed to start building an amazing career for myself. It is definitely a worthwhile experience.”

– Jonathan Brand ’23

Cynthia Pitta, Director of College Counseling and panel moderator, believes that by gaining deeper knowledge of the professions that interest them, students will be able to identify the colleges that fit their objectives best. She emphasized how much students were deriving from interactions with the alumni. “I’ve had at least three students tell me how amazing their experience was. Two of them said they have already been in touch with panelists and are in the process of arranging shadow and internship opportunities. This is so valuable, not only so students can learn more firsthand, but also in helping them make their college applications stand out.”

It’s important to stress that many alumni saw Alumni Career Day as much more than a one-time thing. It was a true networking event that brought students together with alumni who just might become long-term advisors and important professional connections. Attorney Christopher Carbone ’93 is a good example of an alumnus who is committed to helping students succeed in his profession. He gladly handed out his card to anyone who might want to contact him later for further help and advice.

Veteran rock guitarist Britt Denaro ’03 (Vixen and Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp) stepped up with a surprise internship for an Austin Prep student. This internship will enable the student to shadow her on tour and help to manage her social media platforms.

Taylor Vanderwoude ’08, a Navy recruiter and nurse, flew in from Pennsylvania for Alumni Career Day. In addition to participating in panel discussions, she gave students a glimpse into the ceremony and tradition that is such an important part of military life when she commissioned a renowned orthopedic surgeon, George S.M. Dyer, MD, as a Commander into the U.S. Navy.