Worcester State University’s Career Development Center turned classroom theory into professional reality on October 21, welcoming 40 diverse employers and nearly 200 students to the campus’s inaugural Internship Fair in the Wellness Center competition gym.
While the university has a long history of hosting traditional career fairs, Career Development Center Director Dannie Lacks noted that the campus community needed an event laser-focused specifically on experiential learning.
“It’s one thing to search for internships online, but it’s something entirely different to stand in front of an employer, introduce yourself, ask questions, and make a personal connection,” Lacks said.
Designed to help students build confidence and explore career pathways well before graduation, the fair resonated deeply with underclassmen and transfer students alike. Psychology majors Lauren Jeznach and Mya Powell said it was especially valuable being able to connect with prospective employers early in their academic journeys. Jeznach, a second-semester freshman, visited booths like the New England Center for Children with Autism and RCAP Solutions. Though she plans to wait a year or two before locking in an internship, she called the experience “awesome,” noting it was “nice to learn overall what I need to do and what I should do.”
For transfer student Mya Powell ’28, the event opened her eyes to the breadth of professional possibilities across fields ranging from senior living to special education. “It’s really good to be here because there’s so many different internship possibilities and to be able to see all the different ones and the different routes you can take, it’s really cool,” Powell said. Public health major Mercy Konadu used the fair to target various aspects of her field, successfully connecting with Riverside Community Care regarding a possible mental health internship program.
Employers on the floor were equally enthusiastic about the turnout and the high caliber of student engagement. Emma Clark, assistant program coordinator for the City of Worcester’s Division of Youth Opportunities, praised the strong student traffic and the chance to connect with promising talent. “It’s really fun to get to meet all of these great students,” Clark said, noting that her small five-person team was thrilled by the level of engagement and eager to help underclassmen explore municipal careers. Operating under Health and Human Services, Clark said her division offered tailored internships— and for the first time, part-time paid positions—and she emphasized that municipal work involves diverse skills like data analysis, grant writing, and community engagement.
Trey Salce, market manager for industrial supply giant Fastenal, highlighted the strategic value of engaging students early. Reaching candidates two or three years before graduation allows companies to build loyalty and retention early on, an approach that he said has helped Fastenal secure average employee tenures exceeding five years.
In addition to meeting employers, students utilized a dedicated “Coaching Corner” for last-minute advice and resume tweaks. For the Career Development Center, the heavy student traffic and stacks of depleted promotional materials signal a resounding success and a blueprint for the future, Lacks said.
“Success isn’t measured only by the number of internships that result from the event,” he said. “If a student discovers a career path they hadn’t considered, makes a connection with an employer, gains confidence introducing themselves, or leaves feeling more excited about their future, that’s a win.”
