( ENSPIRE Community Spotlight ) Empowering Minority Students for Career Success: Insights from the 2023 AUCC Career Fair
For decades, UNCF (United Negro College Fund) has been unwavering in its commitment to guiding students of color toward prosperous careers and helping them navigate life after graduation. This year, the UNCF Empower Me Tour (EMT) took a momentous step by collaborating with the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) for their 2023 AUCC Career Fair, which was held on Friday, September 15. The AUCC, renowned for nurturing the world’s brightest emerging professionals, brought together students and organizations seeking innovation and expertise.
The UNCF Empower Me Tour (EMT), sponsored by founding partner Wells Fargo, celebrated its 15th year, inspiring students to take charge of their futures by pursuing higher education. The Fall 2023 Tour was conducted in-person, marking an exciting return to traditional career readiness programs.
The 2023 AUCC Career Fair, held at AmericasMart, Building 2, on September 15, was a day filled with promise and enthusiasm. Students from the Atlanta University Center were transported to the venue and registered to explore opportunities with various vendors. The atmosphere was electrifying as these bright scholars connected with leaders from diverse industries.
Over 250 esteemed organizations, including Fortune 500 corporations, enterprising companies, nonprofits, and government agencies, were present to discuss both full-time employment and internships. Courtney Sykes, a senior from Clark Atlanta University, exclaimed, “I’m so inspired to jump-start my career. Opportunities like this are such a blessing to us students.” Many others shared similar sentiments about how the event uplifted their spirits after facing challenges like the Atlanta flood earlier in the week.
The students had the privilege of attending a panel discussion on September 14, featuring influential figures like Melissa Mitchell, Chief Artistic Director & Founder of Abeille Creations, Satchel Jester, Journalist & Creative Director, Markell Byrd, Senior VP & Diverse Segment Leader at Wells Fargo, and Jonathan Martin, 11 Alive News Anchor. Following the panel discussion, students dined with the panelists and other industry influencers.
Wells Fargo further surprised 15 students with $1,500 scholarships, offering support to students from various majors and class levels. Michael Hodge, the Executive Director of the Atlanta University Center Consortium, emphasized the importance of putting innovators and creative professionals to work in addressing global challenges and changing paradigms.
UNCF EMT events provided college students with expert advice on job interviews, personal finance, empowerment, and personal branding. In addition to Wells Fargo, the UNCF EMT received sponsorship from The Coca-Cola Co., Milwaukee Public Schools System, and Procter & Gamble. National sponsors included Best Buy, FedEx, Kaiser Permanente, Toyota, and the Walton Family Foundation. Since its inception, the UNCF EMT has offered over $25 million in scholarships and positively impacted thousands of students.
For more information on the UNCF Empower Me Tour and to register for free, visit EmpowerMeTour.org. Stay engaged with the conversation on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @UNCF #EmpowerMeTour.
About the AUCC
The Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, operates on behalf of its member institutions, including Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College. As the world’s oldest and largest association of historically Black colleges and universities, the AUCC fosters a vibrant intellectual community with a rich tradition of scholarship, service, and community engagement.
About UNCF
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs while strengthening its 37 member colleges and universities. UNCF also advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions, comprising only 3% of all colleges and universities, award 15% of bachelor’s degrees, 5% of master’s degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees, and 19% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, impacting over 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the nation.
Follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF or visit UNCF.org for continuous updates and news.
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