In October, two Mississippi Valley State University students earned the opportunity to interact with hundreds of employers during the 20th Thurgood Marshall College Fund Leadership Institute.
Chyna Sawyers, a senior Engineering Technology major from London, England, and Kristopher Bond, a junior Business Administration major from Chicago, attended the power-packed five-day virtual conference in the comfort of their residence halls.
Currently, Sawyers serves as Miss MVSU for the 2020-2021 academic year, and Bond is the Vice-President of the MVSU Student Government Association. Both students shared insight into their virtual experiences.
Sawyers felt the recruitment fair, which included Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and graduate program representatives, was one of the institute's highlights.
“My experience at the conference was life-changing,” said Sawyers. This is my second year attending and my first as a TMCF Ambassador,” she added.
“The Thurgood Marshall College Fund provided the opportunity to re-envision my leadership, grow and network with over 400 likeminded scholars while enduring the pandemic. I found life-long friends by creating a community of scholars. They have also provided a platform and path to make connections with companies that lead to internships and jobs,” Sawyers explained.
Bond said attending the conference helped him see all the possibilities for his professional goals and showed him the power of networking.
“It was an amazing experience, and it put me in a great headspace and in an environment where iron sharpens iron,” Bond said. Although the conference was virtual this year, I made so many connections and learned so much information that I can put toward advancing my professional career,” he added.
Bond met and interviewed with several companies that included JP Morgan Chase, Honda America, Ankura, Kellogg, Wells Fargo, and TIAA.
“I would not hesitate to recommend this highly competitive conference to anyone trying to develop themselves in any area further,” said Bond.
Sawyers felt that participating in the conference gave her first-hand professional development experience.
“We do indeed enter as students and leave as professionals,” she said. The conference is intense, but worth it, I was able to learn from dynamic speakers, receive feedback on my resume, and I spoke to company recruiters who offered tips when applying for jobs and interviewing,” Sawyers added.
Bond added, “I was delighted that I got to meet so many intelligent, top tier, confident, students from different HBCUs across America. I am also excited to enhance my future, make an impact, inspire generations, and change the world.”
“Mississippi Valley State University is the best HBCU in the land, and it was an honor to represent my school in this way. I will continue to commit myself to excellence, for I have tools to do so,” Bond said.