FULLERTON, Calif. - The second-annual Fullerton Athletics Career Expo (FACE) welcomed 59 employers and campus partners to Titans Gym on Monday as 208 student-athletes attended the event to learn and prepare for life after college graduation.
FACE, supported by Athletic Director Jim Donovan and Athletics Academic Services, is an opportunity for student-athletes at Cal State Fullerton to network and engage personally with prospective employers as well as representatives from CSUF graduate programs.
"This year’s FACE event was fantastic,” Life Skills Coordinator Pam Newton said. “The amount of student-athletes and employer/campus partners both increased from last year. The opportunities for jobs and internships continue to rise and conversations about employment skills, career choices and networking helps build a successful foundation for future relationships between these employers and all Titan student-athletes.”
This networking event is a win-win opportunity for both employers and Titan student-athletes as employers have a unique chance to engage with Titan student-athletes who are excited to lead and become prospective candidates for internships and full-time employment.
“I love working with student athletes,” Kim Martin from Enterprise said. “They embody the traits we look for at Enterprise: teamwork, competitiveness and drive.”
Many employers were excited by the influx of freshmen and sophomores participating in FACE this year.
“A great event,” former Cal State Fullerton football player Danny Pasquil with the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division said. “This year, many underclassmen approached my table and introduced themselves. This was a positive move.”
Employers in attendance included Target, Geico, Stanley Black & Decker, Cintas, New York Life, Northwestern Mutual Newport Beach and Fullerton Police Department.
“This is an awesome event for student- athletes to network with current professionals and explore options and opportunities that are available for life after collegiate sports,” Austin Stadler of Teksystems said.
Along with businesses, student athletes also had the chance to speak with additional colleges at Cal State Fullerton and beyond as well as several other campus groups including the CSUF College of Communications, CSUF Career Center, Mihaylo Career Services, University Police, College of Human and Health Development, Mihaylo Hall Sales and Leadership Center, CSUF Housing and Residence Life, UC Riverside Extension International Education Programs and Concordia University Irvine master’s program with coaching and athletic administration.
“FACE provides student athletes with career options in many ranges of employment,” Dom Feeley of CSUF Housing and Residence Life said.
“I loved everything about it,” Morgan Thompson of the track and field team said. “This was a great opportunity to network with companies and develop social skills.”