FEATURES
PAGE 6
NEW AT HURST
Career Exposition for Hospitality By Samantha Weber
Managing editor
Contributed photo
By Bella Lee Staff writer One of the new faces you might come across around campus this year is Anthony Fulgenzio, the new Vice President for Advancement. He is in charge of the university’s advancement endeavors including fundraising, annual funds, corporate relations, grant relations, alumni relations and donor relations. According to Mercyhurst’s announcement welcoming him as vice president, “Fulgenzio will lead philanthropic initiatives and oversee key programs including major gifts, alumni and parent engagement, and planned giving, all while serving on President Getz’s senior leadership team.” Fulgenzio has been in the academic setting for a long time now. His education took him to Gannon University, where he earned his Bachelor’s in Radio and Television Communications and his Master’s in Education Administration Leadership. Following graduation, Fulgenzio spent 17 years at Gannon in a variety of fundraising roles, with his latest being the executive director of philanthropy and communications. Before his career in higher education, Fulgenzio was active in television and the communications industry. He was an Erie news anchor, managing editor and producer at WSEE-TV, better known as Erie News Now. This isn’t his first time serving as Vice President for Advancement, as he previously held the position for three and a half years at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio before joining the Mercyhurst community on Aug. 1. Fulgenzio’s main job is fundraising, or, as he calls it, “friend raising.” “Much of what we do is engaging alumni, corporate partners and friends of Mercyhurst and eventually securing financial support for endowed scholarships which directly benefit students as part of their overall financial aid package,” said Fulgenzio. As one of a handful of new employees who had their start at Gannon, there is, fortunately, no bad blood for Fulgenzio. “What I enjoy most about Mercyhurst is the excitement under the new leadership of Dr. Getz, the rich Mercy history of the University, the people and the warm, collegiate atmosphere,” Fulgenzio said, “it truly is a very special place.” Fulgenzio’s role with the Mercyhurst community is quite important, but he’s just as happy as everyone else to call Hurst home. If you see him around, be sure to give him a warm welcome.
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
On Nov. 4, the Office of Career & Professional Development hosted eight employers for the Hospitality Career Exposition. The eight companies were Ohio HIDTA, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Cedar Point, Giant Eagle Inc., Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh University Place, Piping Rock Club, Sheraton Erie Bayfront and White Lodging. If students were interested in attending the expo, they could have registered in three ways. They could have stopped by the Career and Professional Development offices in Egan Hall to sign up for specific companies, registered for the expo on Handshake or registered for separate interview sessions on Handshake. The event took place in the 24-hour lounge of the Center for Academic Engagement (CAE) from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. All the different employers had tables in the lounge and students were able to walk around at their leisure and the were able to talk with as many employers as they wanted to. “I really like the opportunity to talk about different job opportunities with a wide variety of companies,” said sophomore Hospitality Management and
Culinary Arts major, Veronica Kibbe. The location of this event is not only home to the Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts programs, but it is also the location of Cafe Diem, which is the student-run and operated cafe on campus. The students in the HM (Hospitality Management) and CA (Culinary Arts) programs have to work a set number of hours at the cafe to help them gain that real-world experience during their time in their undergraduate programs. The location of the event was a perfect segue for students to talk about the work they have done with Cafe Diem. The intention of the exposition was to help students find jobs. Kibbe thought it was a successful event., “With summer internships already on my mind, I appreciated that the hospitality department took their time to set up this event in order to make my job hunting a little less stressful,” said Kibbe. This year’s career expo looked a lot different than last year’s, and since that was Kibbe’s first year she had some thoughts about the way it was run. “My favorite part was that it was in person this year. Last year, all the online job fairs felt more like another zoom to attend rather than actual help in finding a summer position,” said Kibbe.
While sometimes it may seem like we are through the worst of the pandemic, it is still very prevalent in our society and it is essential that students feel safe while trying to further their careers. “I also liked the fact we were allowed to put different color star stickers on our name tags showing our comfort in physical contact. Green meant you were willing to shake hands, yellow stood for only an elbow bump, and red meant please no contact,” said Kibbe. Overall, a lot of the HM students were pleased with the event. “It was all put together really well, and it seemed like everyone had at least one engaging conversation with a potential employer,” said Kibbe. The event as a whole was met with a large turnout and was highly successful. Junior Hospitality Management Major Kelly Lupton shared her thoughts as well. “This event was really helpful or me. I loved getting to talk with employers and they really helped me once again realize how excited I am about working in such a unique industry,” said Lupton.
The Booker T. Washington Center continues to be a crucial asset By Hannah Brooks Staff writer
The Booker T. Washington Center (BTW), located at 1720 Holland Street, is a branch of Mercyhurst University. This branch of Mercyhurst provides opportunities for students to return to school at affordable prices. It has been in collaboration with Mercyhurst for quite some time and continues to be a strong asset for the university’s academics. The BTW offers services to a variety of individuals; including high school students, dislocated workers and adults simply looking for a career change. Students can take advantage of a variety of degree and certificate programs or get started on their four-year degree. The BTW, much like Mercyhurst’s main campus, offers services to its students such as educational, physical and emotional wellness services. Students who attend the BTW campus have access to amenities provided at Mercyhurst’s main campus, such as academic support and career services. The campus is conveniently located near downtown Erie, saving students from the hassle of commuting to classes. The academ-
ic programs offered at the BTW center include a Business Administration (Management) Associate Degree, a Criminal Justice Associate Degree and a Liberal Arts Associate Degree. Students are also able to begin classes at the BTW center before transferring to Mercyhurst’s main campus, though the time spent at the Center varies by student. The BTW is very helpful to students who have jobs and families, helping each individual student to determine the best possible plan for academic success. The Booker T. Washington Center is a great opportunity for students also working or raising a family, which are very difficult and time intensive activities. It can also be very helpful for individuals who took a break from school after graduating high school as the transition back into schoolwork can be stressful at times, especially when paired with other factors. The tuition rates are also cheaper than the main campus’ rates. The 2021- 2022 rates are $1665 per three-credit course and an $85 registration fee per term. The costs are lower but students are also able to get out-of-pocket costs greatly reduced through financial aid. Some grants are also available to
students, such as the Booker T. Washington grant which saves students up to $200 per course. “The center offers evening classes with the intention of catering to nontraditional and adult students. In addition to providing evening classes, the BTW Center offers small, intimate classroom settings,” said Kaitlyn Dolak, Director of Programming at the Booker T. Washington Center. She also adds that it is a privilege to be able to serve the community at the level of importance that they do, and they hope to become more visible and raise more awareness about the services that they provide for Erie residents. “It is a true asset to the City of Erie and is home to many great and necessary programs at a familiar setting in the community, providing a welcoming space to Erie City residents who are returning to school,” said Dolak. To learn more about the Booker T. Washington Center and what they offer, you can visit the tab on the Mercyhurst University web page: https://www.mercyhurst. edu/mne/btw. or contact Katlyn Dolak at kdolak@mercyhurst. edu.
