By: Sarris Balcerzak ~Staff Writer~

Xavier’s Graduate School and Year-of-Service Fair informed students of postgraduation options to further their education before they enter full-time employment.

From 3-5 p.m. on Oct. 28 in the Cintas Center, representatives from more than 70 graduate schools and year-of-service agencies met with students to discuss their programs and the benefits they have to offer.

The year-of-service agencies aimed to offer students a way to explore career options and goals while serving as alternatives to going staight into the working world.

The Alliance for Catholic Education promoted its two-year program which earns potential future students enrollment into the Masters of Education program at the University of Notre Dame while teaching for two years in under-resourced Catholic schools in the U.S.

World Teach provides opportunities for individuals to serve as volunteer teachers around the world. This organization partners with Ministries of Education and sends 400 volunteers annually to schools that have sought out support.

“I served in Colombia last year teaching middle school,” Audrey Bader, World Teach alumna, said. “I used my gap year to decide what I wanted to do.”

Each volunteer is provided with housing, field support and a monthly stipend.
Capuchin Franciscan Volunteer Corps offers postgraduate students a one-year full-time volunteer program that seeks to help people in need in the fields of health care, education and social services. Though all majors can apply, specific majors in the science and social work fields were being recruited.

The Peace Corps offered information about the federal organization designed to help others on a global scale. The rigorous program is made up of 27 months, three months in training and the other 24 months in service, and is said to be an extraordinarily rewarding experience.

Nonprofit Organizations such as Nazareth Farm, a Catholic community in rural West Virginia, sought out volunteers to experience God by building relationships amongst volunteers — who provide home repair to the needy — and the community they serve.

University of Cincinnati College of Law and Capital University Law School competed for graduating Xavier students’ application to their programs.

Xavier MBA and Graduate Business Program, which now offers a full-time day MBA program, welcomed students to continue their education at Xavier.

“Overall, this has been extremely helpful because graduating as an undergrad … you just really want to get your life together,” senior Allison Martin said at the fair. “Seeing all these open paths is very reassuring.”

The next career fair opportunity will be the Big East Virtual Career Fair and Grad School Fair on Nov. 4. The online fair allows students to apply for internships, full-time positions and graduate programs from home.