Hurricane Helene couldn’t stop Stetson’s Fall 2024 Internship & Career Expo, Friday, Sept. 27 — much to the delight of the 54 exhibitors and approximately 400 students (along with alumni, staff and faculty) who attended at the Hollis Center Fieldhouse on campus.

One night earlier, the Category 4 storm made landfall in the Florida Panhandle, sparing DeLand campus of harsh destruction, which kept the promise of employer presentations and career exploration intact. And the Expo did not disappoint. 

“I’m really proud of the students who came out to the event today with the storm we had; they showed up!” said John Sheehy, associate director of Career Success, as the event began to wind down. “They’re making the employers feel good about being here. They’re really charting some new paths for their internships and career paths that they’ve never thought of before.”

The Exhibitors

Near the entrance of the Expo, lively activity surrounded the EA Sports booth, and with good reason. EA Sports was providing a QR code, enabling Stetson students direct access to a portal for internships and jobs. EA also tracks Stetson applications, and in November will host students at its headquarters in Orlando. 

Not far away, Zantavion Rushing was all smiles, too. Rushing represented both sides of the Expo’s equation. He is a Stetson Psychology major who will graduate in 2025, and he was present to speak with other students about volunteering as a tutor at DeLand Preparatory Academy. 

“My goal right now is just to find more interns and volunteers. I did the same thing [as a math tutor], and it gave me the opportunity to actually build a one-on-one relationship with kids — and it helped me figure out what I want to do in my life,” said Rushing, who proudly wore a DeLand Prep shirt. 

Through volunteering, Rushing believes he has improved his career outlook. “I actually want to be a counselor/mental therapist. So, being able to work with the kids is actually helping me prepare for being a counselor and learning how kids operate when they’re stressed, and trying to find different ways to not only relieve that stress, but to help them understand it … .” 

Ashleigh Perkins, Volunteer Program manager at the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation, was offering medical career opportunities. “Our volunteer program is directly in the infusion room with the patients,” Perkins explained. “So, it gives students another way [into a career] to see if this actually is what they want to do. It lets them learn about patient care and relationship building within a medical facility. … All the students who have come to my table are super interested in the volunteer opportunity.”

Bill Dewitz, senior management of talent acquisition of Encore, a global specialist in event audio/visual technology, saw growth among the students who attended. 

“I think for Stetson, my experience with the students has always been very positive. They tend to be professional, mature. They’re coming to these events and learning from their peers on how they should act, how they should present themselves. They start coming as freshmen, and they get to be seniors coming to the table looking for a job. Very polished; it’s really exciting to see them grow,” Dewitz commented. 

The Students

Students Nolan Lappin, Anastasia Adeikyte and Sarena Shaw personified such professionalism and growth. 

Lappin, a senior majoring in Economics and Finance, was seeking something in either corporate financial management related to manufacturing or investment services. “This is a great way to have exposure, and I like talking to people in person to try and find job opportunities versus just doing it all online. I think it’s better to have human connection,” Lappin said.

Adeikyte, from Lithuania and a member of the women’s tennis team, is majoring in Sociology and uncertain of her career path. She was looking for a little direction. “I’m not sure if I want to become a lawyer or a detective,” Adeikyte said. “So, I want to talk to people and see what fits me best, and then decide and go from there. … Even if you don’t know what your next step in your life is, I think it’s really good to talk to people who have been in this sphere, and they will definitely give you a good advice.”

Shaw ’23, who majored in Marketing and Professional Sales and is now pursuing an MBA, had attended the previous two Expos. “This one today, I’ve been really impressed. … The different companies that I’ve never even heard of that actually cater to exactly what I’m looking for,” Shaw said. “They’re open to not only internships, but full-time positions. … . I didn’t have any reservations just telling [companies] what I was looking for and just practicing my elevator pitch.”

“This is almost a masterclass on how to be social and how to be professional,” Sheehy concluded. “… This is all about becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s going to be part of their life. And we’re proud of our students for doing that.”

-Michael Candelaria