The Lawrence University Career Center hosted a Law Enforcement Career Panel for students interested in entering the field Monday, Sept. 27. Alumni who have succeeded in law enforcement offered their advice and opinions to students. The event was hosted by the new career counselor, Chelsy Cegielski.
The Law Enforcement Career Panel was the first of many career panels to be held this year at the Career Center.
“Career panels address a whole host of career paths,” said Director of Career Counseling Kathy Heinzen. “We operate based on what might interest students.”
The career panels rely heavily on the involvement of Lawrence alumni. “This is a way that [former] students can offer their time and talent to the university as panelists,” added Heinzen.
For practical purposes, the Career Center sometimes supplements some panels with professionals who did not attend Lawrence.
The career panel event is central to one of the Career Center’s goals: connecting with Lawrence alumni. “We want to continue to involve Lawrence alumni in the services and programs we offer,” Heinzen said.
Besides organizing career panels, the Career Center offers a wide array of opportunities for students seeking employment, from resume-writing workshops to an enormous database of internship opportunities.
“The Career Center is not just for seniors,” clarified Heinzen. The Career Center offers assistance to underclassmen that are seeking help in choosing a major or finding an internship.
This year marks a significant addition to the staff at the Career Center. Chelsy Cegielski joined the team as a new career counselor, Tricia Plutz as the new internship coordinator and Sue Knott as the new administrative assistant.
Cegielski, who hosted the first career panel of the year, is excited to work with the Lawrence community. “My passion is helping students identify their major,” explained Cegielski. “And also their life after Lawrence, including their job search and grad school.”
When asked about her impressions of the Lawrence Career Center, Cegielski stated, “I’m amazed at how many students
are making appointments so early in the term. and how many Lawrence students are preparing for grad school.”
“I hope that students become more aware of the great internship program we have at the Career Center, and in general, that students, staff and faculty get more excited about the opportunities offered here,” said Plutz.
The Career Center also hires student career assistants, who are available to help students in a variety of ways.
“I think that students should know that we do more than just résumés,” says Gwen Curtis-Ehrhart, a junior career assistant. “We have a lot of really good resources for alumni connections and internships.”
Curtis-Ehrhart added, “It’s really nice to go and meet someone who has graduated from Lawrence [at a career panel], even if they’re not in a field that you’re interested in.”
Interested students are recommended to consult the Career Center section of the Lawrence website, which offers recorded interviews with alumni, videos on how to write resumes and access to the internship database.
Career Center kicks off year with career panel, new staff members
