Four people were honored and rewarded at a reception on Monday from the Florida A&M University Career Center. Bridget Roberts, Tyise Patterson, Mikelo Williams and Derrick McMahon were the lucky winners from the fall 2008 Career Expo that happened Oct. 1 at the Leon County Civic Center.
Each participant of the Expo had the opportunity to enter a raffle for door prizes. Three were chosen to win Zune MP3 players, and one received a black 2008 Dell Laptop.
McMahon, a junior health information management student from Frost Proof, was in need of a new computer and was one of four who received a phone call from the Career Center.
“I was really excited. Me and my mom were talking about getting a new laptop,” McMahon said. “The following Monday, I got a phone call from school about winning.”
McMahon won a Dell laptop and the 2007 Microsoft Office Suite from the drawing.
“I am really thankful for the career center,” McMahon said. “This is an example of the University doing good things for students.”
As advertised, the career center contacted the winners after drawing the names, allowing them to pick a date to pick up their prizes. Many students did not apply, due to the perception of false advertisement.
“All the students were excited about learning (and) winning,” Milton said. “The students appreciated us doing something to honor them.”
Milton said the career center has given prizes, including laptops, every semester for the last three years. Roberts said she thought her phone call was a joke and was shocked in her winning of the mp3 player.
“Brandi called me in October,” Roberts said. “I don’t remember filling out for the prize. I thought Ms. Milton was playing.”
Each semester, the career center tries to give out promotional incentives to increase the moral of students at the Expo. According to Brandi Milton, Coordinator of Experimental Learning & Assistant Director of Career Services of FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, corporate sponsors also give door prizes as well such as portfolios, brief cases, gift cards and t-shirts.
Patterson was also surprised by the phone call from Milton last month about winning an MP3 player.
“I forgot I filled anything out at the Expo,” Patterson said. “The reception was good, with good food and good people. “
Like Patterson, she and other participants of the Expo had the opportunity to meet several employers and receive gifts.
“This year’s Career Expo, I was able to talk more to companies face-to-face,” Patterson said.