This May, hundreds of 麻豆视频 students had an opportunity to speak with local employers and admissions staff at four-year schools during fairs on the Yakima and Grandview campuses.
At the Career & Transfer Fair held May 8 on the Yakima Campus, more than 250 students met with representatives from 33 employers and 14 institutions of higher education in Hopf Union Building. In addition, YVC aims to have at least 50 students connect with employers and higher education institutions for placement within three months of the fair.
Marcus Estill said he appreciated how the college organized the fair to make sure students like him can learn about opportunities to take the next step after they finish their degree or certificate.
鈥淭he college goes above and beyond to make sure that students have what they need,鈥� Estill said. 鈥淎ll you need to do [at the fair] is speak with people. Be open enough to ask questions. And when they hear about your background, they can point you in the right direction.鈥�
TOP: Students talk to a law enforcement agency recruiter during YVC's 2025 Career & Transfer Fair held on May 8 on the Yakima Campus. ABOVE: A YVC student talks to one of more than 30 local employers who participated in the fair.
In Estill鈥檚 case as a future electrician, he was able to speak to employers at the fair such as the Washington State Patrol who are looking to hire electricians.
Business Instructor Kyle Ashley, who helped plan the fair, was excited about the opportunity to connect local employers and students. Not only did students get to learn about the range of opportunities close to home to launch their careers, he said employers came away impressed by the quality of YVC students and how well-prepared they were for the fair.
鈥淎t the conclusion of the event as I met with employers, most asked when we were hosting the next career fair so they could reserve a spot,鈥� said Ashley.
To help students prepare for the event, several pre-fair workshops were held covering topics such as crafting a professional resume, researching employers, dressing for job interviews, perfecting an elevator pitch and more.
Student puruse tables staffed by local employers and institutions of higher education at the Career & Transfer Fair.
Christian Romday took advantage of those workshops to prepare himself for meeting with representatives of some of the four-year schools at the fair to talk about transfer opportunities.
鈥淢y goal was to gather information that I need to transfer to a place like Central Washington University,鈥� Romday said. 鈥淚t was helpful to talk with their recruiter about things like managing time and what to expect for a daily routine.鈥�
Thatcher Weedin, a graduate of YVC鈥檚 Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Management program who served as project manager for the fair, enjoyed networking with students in the run up to the event.
鈥淚t was enriching to tell students about the event and watch their faces light up, to chat with students in the hallways and hear about the preparations for the fair, to see them at the event chatting with employers and sharing new discoveries about potential future careers,鈥� he said.
Ashley also highlighted the involvement of the Business Leaders Society, which supported the fair as a community service program, and BASM students taking a project management course who helped with project planning, community outreach and promotion of the fair, giving them hands-on experiential learning that also contributed to the event鈥檚 success.
鈥淭his effort between students and the project directly supports YVC's institutional learning outcomes and is an incredibly positive example of where classroom learning connects YVC to the community,鈥� said Ashley.
The following week on the Grandview Campus, YVC partnered with WorkSource-Sunnyside to hold a Job and Resource Fair for students and community members. The event featured dozens of local employers and community support services for both students and members of the wider community to connect with.
Story by Dustin Wunderlich, director of community relations. Photos by Matt Barton, graphic designer/multimedia content producter.