Senior Transitions Conference
2021 Date TBA
RMS Student Center
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Registration for this event has been shut down.
Are you ready for life post-Slippery Rock? Join us for this one-day conference, dedicated to helping you successfully make the transition from students to alumni.
For each session, please select the course you wish to take. Dinner is included with the conference at no cost, but we do ask that you pre-register for the meal.
Review the entire Senior Transitions Conference Program before registering
Conference (With Dinner & Without Dinner):
3:30 – 4:00 p.m.
4:00 – 4:30 p.m.
4:30 – 5:15 p.m
Conference Session 1
5:15 – 5:45 p.m.
Express Sessions: Learn helpful information in this condensed session
5:45 – 6:30 p.m.
Conference Session 2
RMS Student Center
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Registration for this event has been shut down.
Are you ready for life post-Slippery Rock? Join us for this one-day conference, dedicated to helping you successfully make the transition from students to alumni.
For each session, please select the course you wish to take. Dinner is included with the conference at no cost, but we do ask that you pre-register for the meal.
Review the entire Senior Transitions Conference Program before registering
Conference (With Dinner & Without Dinner):
3:30 – 4:00 p.m.
- Registration, RMS Student Center, Third Floor
4:00 – 4:30 p.m.
- Welcome and What’s Next, RMS Student Center Theater
Kelly Bailey, Director of Alumni Engagement
John Rindy, Director of Career Education and Development
4:30 – 5:15 p.m
Conference Session 1
- Grad School 101, Room 319
Nancy Ejzack, Graduate Admissions, Slippery Rock University
Is graduate school the right decision for your future career plans? This session will provide information on how to research graduate programs, apply to programs, and how to ensure an easy transition between your undergraduate experience and graduate school.
- Money Lessons for Graduates, Room 320
James Flatt ’07, PNC Bank
Creating and maintaining a personal budget is essential to financial freedom. This session will review where to start, how to organize your spending, and what things you should prioritize when building a budget.
- Managing Student Debt, Room 321
Joanna Hastings, Assistant Director, Financial Aid & Scholarships, Slippery Rock University
Understanding your repayment options is extremely important. With varying repayment plans, deferment entitlements, and even loan forgiveness options, your rights and responsibilities can be difficult to understand. This session will review essential vocabulary and how to find out what you owe to begin estimating payments.
- Understanding a Benefits Package, Room 322
Marcia Kotek ’88, Benefits & Transactions Manager, Slippery Rock University
Understanding the terminology used in a benefits package is the first step to navigating and negotiating your first job offer. This session will provide an explanation for common terminology used by Human Resources, as it relates to health care, retirement and other common benefits provided by employers.
5:15 – 5:45 p.m.
Express Sessions: Learn helpful information in this condensed session
- Healthy Eating Strategies & Recipes, RMS Student Center Theater
AVI
Meal preparation and maintaining a healthy diet takes planning. Learn some great tips from AVI on how to balance a nutritious diet with a budget (while sampling the creations!) - The Basics of Car Care: Keeping Your Ride in Stride
Flynn’s Tire and Automotive Care
Every car, new and old, needs TLC. From windshield wipers to tire pressure, learn how to keep on top of regular maintenance. - Real Estate - Relocation Tips & Cost of Living Estimates, Room 31
Deb Monteleone, Julie Seebock, Clear Choice Enterprises
Finding a new neighborhood post-graduation is a challenge – whether you are staying local or moving to a new community. Learn how to prepare for your “First Home,” including all the things you need to consider and balancing expectations. This will also review loan programs available for first time borrowers.
5:45 – 6:30 p.m.
Conference Session 2
- Insurance: What coverage do I need to have?
Vince Gemma, Everest Insurance, LLC
Are you in need of insurance but not sure what kind of insurance coverage is out there that fits your need? Get the scoop on all the packages out there and learn about great savings for Rock Alumni. - Investing in Your Future
Mark Palmer ’97, Integrity Financial Advisors, LLC
Every investor has to start somewhere – and it is best to start early! Learn the essential first steps for securing your future through wise investments at a young age. - Managing Student Debt, Room 321
Joanna Hastings, Assistant Director, Financial Aid & Scholarships, Slippery Rock University
Understanding your repayment options is extremely important. With varying repayment plans, deferment entitlements, and even loan forgiveness options, your rights and responsibilities can be difficult to understand. This session will review essential vocabulary and how to find out what you owe to begin estimating payments. - Am I good enough to be here? Managing anxiety in the professional wokplace.
Dr. Ken Messina and Megg Spierto, Counseling Center, Slippery Rock University
This session will discuss the unique anxiety of beginning your first professional job. Anxiety, stress, burnout, and imposter syndrome will be discussed with tips and skills to manage these feelings to ensure a great start to your professional career.
- Dinner, RMS Student Center Ballroom
Young Alumni Panel Q&A Session
Moderated by John Rindy, Director of Career Education & Development
Jordan Grady ’15, ‘16
Alexandra Vaughan ’15
Samantha Rivet ’16
Andrea Boggs ’14
Corey DeSantis ,'13
Brett Brown '15
Conference (Education Track):
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
- Lunch with Keynote Speaker, Ballroom
Dominic Williams ’88, Ohio Education Association (OEA), Labor Relations
During lunch, Dominic will review the differences between working in a unionized and non-unionized state, as well as important steps to remember when you start your career.
1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Education Track: Session One
- Interview Skills, Ballroom
Office of Career Education and Development Staff
This interactive session will offer instruction on how to navigate an interview and provide strategies for improvement. - Retirement for Educators, Room 321
Kelley Clouser, Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and Sean Culbertson, Kades-Margolis Corporation
Learn the basics about retirement plans available to educators in order to understand this important benefit of your professional career. What is the difference between a pension and a 403b? What does it mean to be “vested?” What is a traditional IRA vs. a Roth IRA, and should you invest in either one? How are state legislatures impacting educator retirement? - Money Lessons for Graduates
PNC Bank
James Flatt ’07, PNC Bank
Creating and maintaining a personal budget is essential to financial freedom. This session will review where to start, how to organize your spending, and what things you should prioritize when building a budget.
2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Education Track: Session Two
- LinkedIn Best Practices, Room 320
Dr. John Rindy, Director, Office of Career Education & Development
This session will deliver information on how to utilize LinkedIn as a professional tool, covering the basics, as well as what information to provide and what defines an appropriate profile picture - PERC Prep, Room 321
Renee Coyne, Associate Director, Office of Career Education & Development
Gain useful information on what you should bring to the event, how to dress, and how to find appropriate information beforehand. - Decisions and Consequences, Room 319
Dominic Williams ’88, Ohio Education Association (OEA), Labor Relations
Professionalism in the classroom is essential to long term success. This discussion will focus on lapses in professional judgement and how to avoid them.
3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Education Track: Session Three
- Managing Student Debt, Room 321
Joanna Hastings, Assistant Director, Financial Aid & Scholarships, Slippery Rock University
Understanding your repayment options is extremely important. With varying repayment plans, deferment entitlements, and even loan forgiveness options, your rights and responsibilities can be difficult to understand. This session will review essential vocabulary and how to find out what you owe to begin estimating payments. - Meet with Supervisors
For students needing to meet with supervisory teachers, locations to be determined from respective faculty.
4:00 p.m.
- What’s Next?
Kelly Bailey, Director of Alumni Engagement
John Rindy, Director of Career Education & Development
4:30 p.m.
- Conclusion or progression to evening conference
