Skill Builder! on resume writing offered
Students looking to improve their resume writing skills can attend a workshop that is being offered by NMU Career Services. The Resume Workshop is the first of seven events planned by Career Services this semester to help students find a career outside of college. This workshop is an introduction to resume writing and can teach students how to properly advertise themselves to employers with a well written resume. “The key is to make yourself stand out among the competition,” said Steve LaFond, assistant director of Career Services. It is important to highlight the portions of the resume that employers like to see, said LaFond. Things like degrees earned and volunteer activities are very important in creating an effective resume that employers will notice. The workshop will also teach students how to give references, write application letters and use an online resume system to get resumes posted for employers to view. The goal of these workshops and of Career Services is to aid students in career exploration, and to help them stay on top of an American job market that is constantly changing. The Resume Workshop, which is free for students, will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26 in 3301 Hedgecock.
– James Dyer
NMU professor holds discussion on Islam
On Jan. 27, Mohey Mowafy, professor of health, physical education and recreation, will host a discussion about Islam and Americans’ perception of the religion. The event is sponsored by the Center for Student Enrichment and is a Skill Builder! called “Islam and the World: Perpetual Conflict or Enlightened Reconciliation?” Every year since Sept. 11, Mowafy has held an open discussion at NMU to help students better understand Islam and its impact upon our society. “After Sept. 11 I realized I needed to say something,” said Mowafy. “Nobody can defend any reason for such an act … Grievances are not an excuse. My effort was to explain the complexity of the situation . this is not a moment for black and white answers. This is very, very complex and requires an intellectual stamina to hang on and understand.” Having been a member of the inter-faith community for years, Mowafy said he recognizes the need for student discussion and understanding of Islam. If enough people are interested this year, a follow-up discussion is planned to be held the next week. The discussion will take place in the Back Room of the University Center from 7 to 8:30 p.m.. To register for the event or find out more information, call 227-1771 or e-mail [email protected].
– Terry Reilly
Scholarship competition to help Michigan
Several organizations including CIBER Inc., Comerica Bank, Presidents Council State Universities of Michigan and other sponsors are giving college and university students the opportunity to compete for a scholarship called Motivate Michigan to help Michigan’s wavering economy. Gov. Jennifer Granholm, on behalf of the state of Michigan, is asking students for their ideas to help. Students are asked to submit a problem statement, proposed idea, and expected outcome online. According to the Motivate Michigan Web site, submissions will be judged based on “creativity, originality, practicality and the potential economic impact to the state of Michigan.” According to Tawni Ferrarini, professor of economics at NMU, it’s important for students to attract jobs and retain them. “The future of Michigan’s economy rests on the youth,” she said. The top 10 entries in the competition will be posted online and the general public will choose the top five. Those top five will then be asked to present their idea to a panel of judges in May. The top 10 winners will be awarded scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $40,000. A list of complete contest rules and other information can be found online at www.motivatemichigan.org. Entries can be submitted there from now until Feb. 26.
– Alex Eisner
Workshop helps students plan events
The Center for Student Enrichment will be hosting a workshop to assist student organizations in planning successful campus-wide events. Lizzie Corser, special events coordinator for the Center for Student Enrichment and junior public relations major, said the purpose of this workshop is to make methods and techniques more readily available to NMU students in order to get the best turnout possible for events that their groups put on. According to Corser, organization will be a skill stressed heavily in this workshop. Promotion techniques, hosting times, funding and advertising are some other relevant topics that this workshop will be covering. “You don’t have to have any event planning experience to put on an event,” she said. This workshop will offer important information and resources for student groups who are interested in putting on an event but not necessarily aware of the best ways to do so. Corser said that the event is open to all students. While the material and techniques being presented are unique to planning and hosting events at NMU, much of the skills are transferable outside of campus life, such as good organization, she said. Students wishing to attend must register at www.nmu.edu/slfp under the Skill Builder! workshops section. The workshop will be hosted by Dave Bonsall and Lizzie Corser on Tuesday, Jan. 26 in the Back Room of the University Center and is planned to last from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more information, call (906) 227-1771.
– Max Wojciechowski
