Employers, graduate schools, organizations, internship hosts and alumni filled the Carnegie Room in Hege Library for the Opportunities Fair on Wednesday, April 4. The fair is held every year to give students a chance to expand their professional network.

Many organizations were present at the fair such as the Campbell University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Peace Corps and NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina. Students visiting tables gathered information about volunteer opportunities and graduate school applications.

Guilford students such as first-year Connor Potts attended the opportunities fair.

“I wanted to see if there were any opportunities for me,” said Potts, physics major. “I want to be able to meet people.”

Students visited different tables based on their career and professional goals.

“I wanted to see what opportunities were available in Greensboro,” said first-year Isabelle Lippincott. “Also, I want to be a CEO one day, so I want to network. Guilford is a safe environment to do so.”

Guilford alumni attended the fair to speak with students and offer insight. Lynne Walter ’98, advocacy and organizing manager for NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina spoke at the event. The organization focuses on women having the choice regarding their reproductive rights.

“I wanted to participate because I am an alum,” said Walter. “I believe in supporting Guilford College. We want to engage other students in volunteering.”

Guilford seniors seeking higher education attended the Opportunities Fair to communicate with graduate schools. Professor and librarian Lori Special spoke about the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Department of Library and Information Studies and its master’s program.

“I am a librarian. I love being a librarian,” said Special. “We need to see everybody. You don’t have to be the same religion or color. Everybody is welcomed. I was a public librarian for almost 20 years and I teach a class for the master’s program.

“We want to see more librarians.”

Attendance increased as the fair went on, with students stopping by to get their professional headshot taken and to visit the different organizations present.

“There are more organizations this year and it is important for students to look into the future,” said senior Juliana Avery, who works for the Career Development Center.

Program Coordinator Crystal Zellous, from the Refugee Scholars Program, encouraged students to volunteer for the North Carolina African Services Coalition. The program provides services to refugees settling in Guilford County.

“This fair gave us the opportunity to expose our program and look for college students to help refugees into settling,” said Zellous. “There are different things students can help do and sharing knowledge to young people thinking about college.”

Students were able to gain valuable information to assist with their future careers.

“I thought it would be important to immerse myself into the outside world,” said sophomore Leo Gibson. “I visited lots of tables and found out about different programs.  It helped that I got to see the options available to me after college.”