The Alumni Association held Grad Fair in the Alumni Center. One stop for those who visited was Liberty Mutual Insurance.
Nikisun Shrestha/The Lion's Roar

The senior students graduating this fall were welcomed at the Alumni Center for the Annual Grad Fair.

The fair was on Oct. 5 and 6 and provided the graduating seniors with the opportunity to order their graduation materials and university souvenirs.

“Grad Fair is a one stop shop where we make all the graduation supplies available for the students,” said Julie P. Perise, Interim Alumni Association Director. “They can get caps and gowns, order for invitations and the Southeastern ring.”

Students were also greeted by members of Career Services who helped to answer questions that students had for them.

“We are here to promote the LionHire system which can be used by both students and the alumni,” said Brooke Landry, Student Assistant for the Office of Career Services. “We also help the students in making their résumé.”

Representatives from Liberty Mutual Insurance were also present at the event. They were able to offer some financial advice for students.

“A lot of graduating students are transitioning from their parent’s insurance,” said Liberty Mutual sales representative Jennifer Jarreau. “We help them with the terms, policies and all of that. We also give exclusive discounts on all of our insurance policies.”

The fair was a combination of food, music and information.

“I was not sure what was going to happen,” said Kayla Hoover, an English education major. “I just came here to order my cap, gown and tassel, but now I think it was very helpful, lots of information to take home and look at.”

The Alumni Association hosts the Grad Fair every semester.

“There is a bigger presence from the students of the graduate school,” said Perise. “Students are more involved in the last couple of years. We host around 800 students. We graduate about 1,000 to 1,200. It’s a great number and we hope for the same kind of turnout like this every year.”