Pathways to Profession event connects students to career opportunities

Published on May 8, 2026

Maysville Community and Technical College’s first Pathways to Profession event brought together students, alumni, employers, and employees for a day focused on career readiness, professional development, and workforce connections. 

The event was co-chaired by Sharon Staviski, Division Chair of Business and Related Technologies (BRT) and Computer and Information Technology (CIT) Program Coordinator, and Jennifer Ouderkirk, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the Medical Information Technology Program (MIT).

“The idea for the event grew from the pair’s experience co-chairing the Women in Computing Conference last year, where we saw firsthand the impact professional development opportunities had on students’ confidence, networking abilities, and career preparation. We wanted to create a similar opportunity open to all students and alumni across programs at MCTC,” the co-chairs said.

Held at the Rowan Campus on May 1, the event featured keynote speaker Sara Holubar, whose presentation, “Your Degree Is a Launchpad, Not a Limitation,” encouraged students to remain adaptable, continue learning, and recognize that career paths are often shaped by unexpected opportunities and transferable skills.

Dr. Angela Fultz, Division Chair for Math and Natural Sciences and MCTC’s Kentucky Graduate Profile Academy Committee Chair, also spoke to attendees about Kentucky’s 10 Essential Skills initiative.

Her presentation emphasized the importance of communication, teamwork, professionalism, adaptability, critical thinking, and other workplace skills employers consistently identify as essential for long-term career success.

Additional activities included professional development breakout sessions on topics such as resume development, personal branding, overcoming imposter syndrome, work-life balance, AI skills in the workforce, and professional documents.

Students also participated in an employment panel and connected with employers during a career fair featuring organizations from healthcare, business, information technology, manufacturing, and other industries. 

The event also included support from several volunteers across multiple MCTC campuses who helped make the day successful.

One of the event’s biggest success stories came just days later when a student who attended the career fair connected with an employer from Sterling Health. Following the event, the employer requested the student’s resume, and she was officially hired full-time the following week, just before graduation.

“Pathways to Profession was designed to help students build confidence, make professional connections, and prepare for the transition into the workforce,” said Jennifer Ouderkirk. “Seeing students leave the event with real career opportunities reinforced how valuable these experiences are for our students and community.”

The success of the event highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for students to network with employers, strengthen workforce skills, and prepare for their next professional steps.