Five Arkansas Tech University students have turned a class assignment into a revitalized resource that will help their peers take the next step in career preparation.
Brandon Moix of Bigelow, Destini Nguyen of Dardanelle, Carleigh Noblett of Russellville, Dayton Ross of Russellville and Hayley Wilkinson of Russellville were students in Megan Toland’s Public Relations Projects class in the ATU Department of Communication and Media Studies when they took on the ATU career closet as a case study.
The ATU public relations students worked with representatives from ATU Norman Career Services to conduct a drive to gain donated clothes and increase the ATU career closet inventory. They also developed a communications plan to increase awareness of the resource.
But they didn’t stop there. The students went the extra step by partnering with the ATU Department of Communication and Media Studies to convert a classroom inside the Energy Center on the ATU campus in Russellville into a permanent and visible home for the ATU career closet.
“We are here to help Arkansas Tech University students,” said Nguyen during a ribbon cutting event to mark the opening of the new ATU career closet location on Monday, April 28. “We want them to have access to business professional clothing and business casual clothing so they are comfortable with performing band concerts, having job interviews, taking headshot photos and so much more. These items are all free for students.”
Community partnerships with the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Dardanelle Area Chamber of Commerce, Tini Sky Nail Spa and Parkway Cleaners provided the project with access to additional resources necessary to maximize the career closet service for ATU students.
The ATU public relations students developed a dedicated Instagram account for the ATU career closet (@atucareercloset) and posted flyers around campus to help increase awareness and utilization of the program.
ATU students interested in accessing the career closet are invited to visit www.atu.edu/career/careercloset.php for more information.
