At SEED, we recognize the importance of sharing with our graduates the latest skills and techniques to be successful in today’s workforce. That’s why, for nearly 15 years, we’ve hosted the SEED Graduate Institute (SGI), an event designed to support SEED’s graduates as they take the next step in their academic and professional careers.
This year’s SGI was hosted virtually via the Whova app, a virtual event management tool, on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28. Attendees connected with their peers, attended workshops led by industry professionals, and learned the skills needed to land their dream careers. “One of the biggest challenges in organizing SGI virtually was acknowledging that this year our graduates would not be able to enjoy each other’s company in-person during a weekend getaway and would not have an opportunity to physically network with professionals,” said Brynnlee Pavlovich, College Transition & Success Program Assistant. Fortunately, the virtual aspect made it easy for graduates to reconnect, share SEED memories, and meet graduates with whom they have never interacted before. Attendees with similar career interests also exchanged contact information to connect after the event.
Some of the workshops offered included self-care, resume building, and how to ace a difficult interview. Effectively Budgeting Your Lifestyle was one of the most popular sessions, which was led by Kylie Lipinski, certified financial trainer at The Financial Gym. During this session, graduates learned how to best manage their finances during the current climate and beyond. When asked how students can reduce the amount of student loans they take out in college, Ms. Lipinski shared:
“I recommend keeping your living expenses as low as possible. Students might be able to reduce their expenses by living at home or off campus. If you have to live on campus and buy a meal plan, limit other meals out. Use work study or another part time job to cover spending money and save towards tuition if possible!”
Attendees also had the opportunity to hear from SEED’s CEO, Lesley Poole, in a conversation titled A Moment of Reflection, Connection, and Action. Ms. Poole shared her personal journey to success and encouraged attendees to remain connected to the SEED community as they navigate through this uncertain time.
One of the biggest highlights from SGI was attendee engagement! Take a look at our stats below:
Providing the space and opportunity for graduates to learn, connect, and grow personally and professionally is a victory for us. We’re thankful for our partners and volunteers that helped make this year’s event a success and look forward to continuing this tradition next year.