Stephanie Rankin Working to Enhance Students' Experiences at Ashland University

2014 Feb 6

Two Ashland University students working in the Career Services Department are very enthusiastic about putting their efforts toward improving vocational experiences that incorporate issues of calling and values by linking S.O.A.R. and other students to career-based internships facilitated by the Ashland University Center of Religious Life.

Stephanie Rankin, a senior at Ashland University from Castalia, Ohio, and Hallie Carrino, a junior at Ashland University from West Islip, have been diligently been working with the Career Services Office and the new grant that was presented to Ashland University recently.

Last semester, Executive Director of Career Services Karen Hagans and the Dean of Religious Life Dr. Dan Lawson, with the help of the University Grants Office, received the $50,000 NetVUE (Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education) Program Development Grant from the Council of Independent Colleges to use toward the "intellectual and theological exploration of vocation." These grants are made possible by a grant to the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) from Lilly Endowment Inc. Ashland University is among 36 NetVUE institutions selected in the second annual group of grant recipients.

"The NetVUE grant offers Ashland University students an amazing opportunity to explore their vocational goals, values and calling. Because of the grant, students will be able to build on foundational career-related initiatives contained within their Accent on Success and Lifetime Wellness courses. Collaboration among faculty and staff on our campus, along with the NetVUE grant, enhances our powerful partnerships to benefit our students," says Executive Director of Career Services Karen Hagans.

The student efforts going into this project are shared between Stephanie Rankin and Hallie Carrino, who are the program development/marketing interns; Marin Haba, who is the video production and editing intern; and Alex Mulac and Morgan Phillips, who are the S.O.A.R. coordinators.

According to Carrino, their roles in the career services department range from implementing existing programming calendars for the S.O.A.R. program to collaborating with the Career Services Center Graduate Assistant to implement existing marketing plans for the program.

"Working for the Career Services Center for the past two years has been a wonderful opportunity. The skills I have gained from my three positions within the office have prepared me for life after graduation. I do not fear the future anymore because I know that the Career Services Center has given me the skills and resources to be a successful, young professional. My internship has not only been a job but an overall educational experience," says Rankin.

Carrino is a 2011 graduate of West Islip High School and is the daughter of Anthony and Sharron Carrino of West Islip. She is majoring in Political Science.

Rankin is a 2010 graduate of Margaretta High School and is the daughter of Steven and Wendy Rankin of Castalia. She is majoring in Political Science.

Ashland University, ranked in the top 200 colleges and universities in U.S. News and World Report's National Universities category for 2013, is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.