Gannon University will be hosting its annual CHESS Day at 2:30 p.m. March 23. This event will run to 5:30 p.m. and will take place in the Waldron Campus Center.
The event will feature employers from 11 businesses, who will be giving interviews for internship opportunities as well as full-time jobs.
Peter Agresti, who holds a doctorate in law and serves as program director for the legal studies department, said this would help students develop professional skills and experience.
“The event seeks to offer professional development help in a variety of fields,” Agresti said.
Some of these professional development panels will focus on specific fields of study, such as the Law and Justice Panel in Waldron 219, while some will focus on more generic skill sets, like the Interviewing/Negotiating Panel in Waldron 219. 

The deadline to register for the interviewing panel has already passed. Registration for other panels will be taken up to the day of the event. These panels will have seating for up to 45 people.
The idea behind this exposition is to help Gannon education majors network with local employers as well as build a professional network for when they emerge into the field.
Among those businesses offering interviews at CHESS Day will be the Erie SeaWolves, Sample News Group and United Way of Erie County, and much more. The internships offered target several majors, including journalism, marketing & communication and administrative & theatrical production.
The International Order of the King’s Daughters and Sons will also be in attendance offering interviews for roles like Faith Based Program Planner, Catholic Community Hospital Assistant and Marketing Donor Relations and Marketing Donor Relations Internship.
Others present will be the Kaleidoscope Family Solutions, L’Arche Erie, Erie County and the National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Levi Nugent, a junior biology major who has attended several Gannon-held panels in the past, said he was excited to see that there would be more panels and was looking forward to attending.
“The administration who sets up this event strives to make sure there is something for everyone,” Nugent said.
“If you aren’t finding something relevant to your major, you probably aren’t looking hard enough. But, even if you are just looking for a job to make some extra money, there’s always employment opportunities with the Erie SeaWolves,” Nugent said.
Chloe Kernan, a sophomore public service and global affairs major, said she thought this is a great chance to open new doors for Gannon students.
“I think students in the CHESS world will really benefit from this if they show up and see what opportunities are present,” Kernan said.
“We have terrific faculty looking out for our interests, and it’s something we should seize.”
Registration for the event is being handled through EngageU and handshake. 

(This story was updated on March 11 at 3:45 p.m.)

RANDALL SUTTER
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