THATCHER — With the snip of a ribbon by a giant scissors Friday, Eastern Arizona College President Todd Haynie officially opened the college’s newest offering to the campus and the community — the Career Service Center.
The center will serve as an informational hub for businesses looking to hire college students.
“We’ve got a couple of internships already set up for spring semester, which is super exciting,” said Alison Villalobos, Career Service Center director, “and we’re having a career fair for students on Oct. 30, and we’ve gotten about 20 businesses interested in that.”
In addition to job postings, businesses can conduct workshops and offer job-shadowing opportunities through the center.
For students, the center offers application assistance, work skills workshops and more.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
“Mostly students, of course, have come up and utilized it, but we have had community members come up, too, and take advantage of our resume writing (and) cover letter writing (assistance),” said Jinger Stephenson, Career Pathways coordinator.
The Career Service Center is located on the second floor of the Alumni Library Building.
“Eastern Arizona College plays a central role in the economic health and vitality of the Gila Valley, Graham County and the entire region,” Haynie said. “Last year alone, the college generated $230 million economic impact, and directly supported 3,630 jobs in this region. The opening of this Career Service Center is a continuation of that positive economic impact.”
The center was developed through a $2.1 million Rural, Post-Secondary and Economic Development grant from the U.S. Department of Education, and it has already forged relationships with Arizona @ Work and the Graham County Chamber of Commerce.
