Week of tribute and tips for graduating seniors

By Sofia Syed, Arts & Life Editor

With the fall semester coming to an end, soon-to-be graduating seniors have a chance to commemorate their school pride and take advantage of different workshops with UA’s Senior Week from Saturday, Dec. 5 until Friday, Dec. 11.

“UA Fall 2015 graduates should take part in Senior Week to not only celebrate the accomplishment of finishing their degree at The University of Akron, but also to help them prepare for life after graduation,” said David Vale, assistant director for the Department of Student Life.

Throughout the week, students can pick up 2015 class pins at any event. Students are encouraged to share their favorite UA photos and future plans on social media using the hashtags #UAseniorweek and #foreverazip.

Dec. 5 started the week off by giving students the opportunity to join serveAkron and participate in a volunteer service project for the Akron community.

On Monday, Dec. 7, students enjoyed free ice cream sundaes while they added personal flair and decorations to their graduation caps.

Today, Dec. 8, students can have their résumé reviewed by the Career Center from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. in the Student Union Room 211. Students can also attend a job search workshop from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. in the same room.

Graduating seniors can also take a photo with Zippy from 12 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. in the SU trapezoid lounge. Students have another opportunity to decorate their graduation cap and enjoy free snacks from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. in the SU piano lounge.

On Wednesday, Dec. 9, students can attend a job search workshop from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. and have their résumé reviewed from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. by the Career Center in SU Room 211. Students can also decorate their graduation caps from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the building’s piano lounge.

On Thursday, Dec. 10, graduating seniors can attend “Financial Advice & A Slice” from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. in SU Room 316.  Participants can enjoy free pizza while they learn tips and other useful information from PNC Bank.

Later in the evening, students can attend happy hour with UA alumni at The Score, located at 426 E. Exchange St., from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Students have another opportunity to attend an interview workshop from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m.  and have their résumé reviewed from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. in SU Room 211. Additionally, seniors can decorate their graduation caps from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. in the SU piano lounge.

To finish the week off, on Dec. 11 students have one more chance to participate in decorating their graduation caps while enjoying free snacks, from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. in the SU piano lounge.

“We hope students will take advantage of the workshops and advice from staff members in UA’s Career Center & PNC Bank,” Vale said.

Public relations senior Keirsten Heckel is graduating this Dec. and has accepted a Communication Strategist position at Squirrels, an app- software company based in North Canton.

“It’s a weird feeling knowing that in two weeks all of this will be over. It’s an exciting and rewarding feeling knowing that everything you have worked for your whole life is paying off. It’s also a scary feeling because you jump back into that vulnerable stage of starting a new chapter of your life,” Heckel said.

Graduating seniors should also check their email regularly for a message from President Scarborough about the First Destination Survey. Once completed, stop by the Career Center, SU Room 211, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to receive the free gift: Life After School Explained – “The Definitive Reference Guide.”

“My advice to for soon to be graduating students is that you think you have a lot of time left, but you really don’t because it comes in a blink of an eye. Get involved and do as much as you possibly can and enjoy every moment of it,” Heckel said.

Students should remember to purchase graduation caps and gowns, and other UA memoribilia from bit.ly/1NRQbzM.

For more information about senior week, visit bit.ly/1m7jbap. For more information about graduation, visit uakron.edu/graduation.