Exploring Careers in Business lights path for prospective students
LATROBE, PA — Saint Vincent College is hosting a three-session Exploring Careers in Business program for area high school juniors and seniors considering business as a career path.
Sponsored by the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government at SVC, the program will offer information sessions for students to learn how business shapes our culture, simplifies processes and builds secure futures. The presenters are a blend of industry professionals and SVC faculty and staff.
The interactive fall sessions scheduled for 6-8:30 p.m. Oct. 20, Nov. 6 and Nov. 14 will introduce students to a wide range of business professions in accounting, finance, data analytics, marketing and management.
“A lot of high school students have an interest in business, but they might not know all the different opportunities that are available to them,” said Dr. Michael Urick, C’04, dean of the McKenna School and professor of management and operational excellence. “This series presents them and their parents with details about possible career paths. Sometimes high school students don't know what they want to do when they get out of school and that's perfectly okay. But this series helps to provide them with some options they might not have thought about.”
The sessions include:
- Management and Operational Excellence (Oct. 20; deadline to register Oct. 17). This session covers management strategies and principles of operational excellence to help enhance performance and streamline operations. It also features a behind-the-scenes guided tour of Wabtec’s Fulmer Co. in Export.
- Marketing, Analytics and Enterprise Resource Planning (Nov. 6; deadline to register Nov. 3). This session shows how software assists companies, how branding tells powerful stories that connect with customers, and how data empowers quicker and smart decisions. The session also features an inside look at SAP Business One software.
- Accounting and Finance (Nov. 17; deadline to register Nov. 14). This session covers the fundamentals of financial statements and explains how investment advisors help clients attain their savings goals.
“There are a lot of facets of business to explore, and these sessions are developed to be impactful to students and their families,” Urick said. “There is a lot of information packed into each session, and they are also hands-on so that students will experience aspects of what their future jobs could be like.”
Additionally, parent sessions are scheduled for Nov. 6 and Nov. 17 featuring presentations on career paths, certifications and earnings potential for various business careers. These sessions run concurrently while students participate in their respective sessions.
In addition to networking with business professionals and like-minded peers, students earn a $1,000 scholarship to Saint Vincent College when they attend all three sessions and enroll at SVC as an incoming freshman.
Mitchell G. Farrell, C’18, assurance services manager at Sisterson & Co. LLP, has played a pivotal role in organizing this event. As a former accounting major at SVC, he said he hopes high school students who attend the sessions gain a better understanding of the vast opportunities in business.
“To me, it’s a disservice if high school students don’t know about these career paths when deciding on their major for college,” Farrell said. “It’s even worse if changing majors requires an extra semester or year of costly tuition. We want students to explore careers in business now to make the best decision they can before starting their college career. This program will give students and parents a solid introduction to what a major and career in a business field can look like.”
More information and registration can be found at https://bit.ly/business-
PHOTO: Robert Markley Jr., management and administration instructor in the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government at Saint Vincent College, leads a class on campus.
