BROWNWOOD – November 11, 2021 – Howard Payne University recently hosted 120 students, university personnel, alumni and event sponsors at the university’s second annual Career Summit. The two-day event featuring a luncheon seminar, a résumé writing workshop and career consultations with alumni.
The luncheon included a catered meal by Sodexo and an alumni panel discussion led by Dr. Dale Meinecke ’98, vice president for development at HPU. The panel was comprised of Joe King ’87, owner of Bishop Distributing in Brownwood; Natalia Lopez ’06, an immigration lawyer with offices in Brownwood and Fort Worth; Dr. Scott Venable ’02, lead pastor of Northwood Church in Keller; and Clay West ’98, minister of small groups and administration at University Heights Baptist Church in Huntsville.
Following the luncheon, students participated in a résumé writing workshop in which they worked with advisers to develop new and refine existing professional bios. On the second day of the summit, students participated in virtual career consultations with alumni representing more than 15 professional sectors.
“The HPU Career Summit was an exciting event in which we were able to help students prepare for their future careers through connections with many of our outstanding alumni,” said Dr. Kalie Lowrie ’06, assistant vice president for alumni relations. “Through the luncheon, résumé workshop and virtual career consultations, students were able to receive practical steps toward their vocational preparation. We hope to make this an annual event to equip students and leverage valuable insight from alumni toward future success for all involved.”
Dr. Jennifer McNiece ’02, director of experiential learning and professional development, commented on students’ perspectives of the event.
“We received very positive feedback from our students who took advantage of this opportunity, and we look forward to finding innovative ways to connect them with alumni and other professionals in their field,” she said.
Brooke Robbins, a junior psychology major from Kerrville, said she appreciated the opportunity to hear of the experiences of HPU alumni in the specific career fields.
“At the Career Summit, I appreciated hearing from people who were once students just like me but are now extremely successful in their fields,” said Robbins. “I was also encouraged to hear how God took their time at HPU and led them along paths very different than they could have imagined, but He was still faithful to give them purpose and fulfillment. My favorite part was the one-on-one conversation I got to have with Jared Callaway, a licensed professional counselor working in ministry. As someone who wants to go into counseling, I appreciated his insight on true biblical counseling that puts God first and values the role of family systems as God designed them to be.”
The event was organized by HPU’s Office of Alumni Relations and Office of Experiential Learning and Professional Development. For more information about student employment opportunities at HPU, please visit www.hputx.edu/careerservices or e-mail careerservices@hputx.edu.
HPU thanks the following businesses and organizations for their support of the event: Schlotzsky’s, DanHil Containers, Lucille+Mabel, Bishop Distributing, Brownwood ISD and the HPU Alumni Association.
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Cutline: Pictured at HPU’s Career Summit are, from left, Dr. Kalie Lowrie ’06, assistant vice president for alumni relations at HPU; Dr. Scott Venable ’02, lead pastor of Northwood Church in Keller; Clay West ’98, minister of small groups and administration at University Heights Baptist Church in Huntsville; Joe King ’87, owner of Bishop Distributing in Brownwood; and Dr. Jennifer McNiece ’02, director of experiential learning and professional development.