Maya McFadden Photo
City Hall’s Carlos Eyzaguirre (at right)pitches government internships.
The employers were pitching jobs. The students were ready to pitch themselves.
The two groups met up Wednesday afternoon for an annual rite in New Haven: The New Haven Promise Internship, Job & Career Fair.
The seventh iteration of the the event — at which students who went to college with the help of New Haven Promise scholarships meet employers to learn about and pursue summer internships — took place at Yale’s Payne Whitney Gymnasium. Some 275 Promise “scholars” came suited up with resumes and in their best business attire to listen to employers pitch their open internships and job openings.
“We need strong relationship builders,” said Jennifer Heikkila Diaz, a representative of Teach For America.
More than 50 employers sent representatives to the fair. By the end of the dayy, Heikkila Diaz and Jessica Argenas said they had their eyes on a select few potential summer interns and possible future core members.
Ready To Impress
Celina Ponder.
University of Connecticut senior Celina Ponder, 21, came with 15 copies of her resume rather than the recommended 10.
“I came ready to leave my impression in person and on paper,” she said.
A psychology major, Ponder hopes to incorporate her educational work into the medical field. In 2017, Ponder did a summer internship at Yale New Haven Hospital shadowing workers in the nursing unit. She gained confidence in her skills and in advocating for herself, she said.
“Yale New Haven Health is my number one goal for a career,” Ponder said. Ponder plans to apply to become a medical assistant.
One employer complimented Ponder on her self-advocacy and ability to showcase her skills effectively through clear communication.
Before attending the fair, Ponder said, she attended a New Haven Promise resume workshop to improve and update her resume for the employers.
Asking Questions
Bethany Turnage.
Bethany Turnage, 19, attended the fair with the clear set goal of finding the right connections to one day become a superintendent of schools.
Turnage currently attends Gateway Community College. She hopes to graduate to University of Connecticut or Southern Connecticut State University to major in education administration.
Turnage spent most of the fair speaking with representatives from Teach For America and New Haven Public Schools and posing questions.
Alissa Jones.
Alissa Jones, 16, volunteered at the fair. While working she took the opportunity to network with employers. “I know I need to get better at sticking my neck out there so watching others here has really been helping,” she said.
Jones currently attends James Hillhouse High School and is considering in-state and out-of-state options for college. She is interested in Central Connecticut State University; her top school at the moment is North Carolina A&T State University. “I feel somewhat claustrophobic by New Haven Promise,” which pays most of the tab for in-state scholarships, she said.
Recently Jones has been volunteering at a state courthouse. At Hillhouse, Jones takes a constitutional law class taught by two Yale students. During the school year, the students practice mock trials and even participated in a mock trial with other New Haven high school students hosted at Yale Law School.
While at the fair Jones spoke with representatives from the FBI and local law firms. “They were surprised to see I was so young, but they didn’t discredit my interest,” she said.
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven originally launched Promise along with Yale Unviersity. Yale New Haven Hospital is also a major funder.