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| SCC graduate Clayton Slade (center) recently won a laptop that was donated by the Drake Retail Businesses. He’s standing between Patty Kirkley (left), SCC’s career counselor, and Kathy Posey, SCC’s institutional development associate. |
Clayton Slade, a recent summa cum laude graduate of Southwestern Community College’s Outdoor Leadership program, won the grand prize for SCC’s annual career seminar series – an initiative to prepare students for job searches and professional success.
That grand prize, a laptop donated by the Drake Retail Businesses (Dalton’s Christian Bookstore, DNet Internet Services, Franklin Golf Course, Macon Printing, Microtel Inn & Suites and Sportszone) of Franklin, was just what Slade needed to get off to a strong start in his new role as assistant manager of Nantahala river rafting operations for the Nantahala Outdoor Center.
“I jumped up and down a bit,” Slade said. “The last laptop I had broke down 5 years ago, and I haven’t had one since. … I am so grateful to the Drake Retail Businesses for providing this amazing piece of equipment and to SCC for helping me develop the skills I need to be successful.”
To be eligible for the prize drawing, Slade and other participants were required to attend at least two career center events. He attended three: dining etiquette, job fair and interviews in the round.
“Interviews in the round was one of the most helpful events I’ve ever been to,” Slade said. “To go through that many interviews that close together really helped me to hone my interview skills.”
Patty Kirkley, SCC’s career counselor, said Drake’s annual donation is an excellent selling point for encouraging students to attend seminars that equip them with skills they need to be successful in their careers.
“We are so grateful for the generosity of Drake Enterprises,” Kirkley said. “We’re thrilled the grand prize is helping Clayton at the start of his new career.”
For information on SCC’s Career Center, contact Kirkley at 828.339.4212 orp_kirkely@southwesterncc.edu.
And to learn more about SCC and the programs it offers, visitwww.southwesterncc.edu, call 828.339.4000 or visit a college location near you.
