Berkeley College Summer Career Workshops draw record crowd of high school students

While most high school students have other plans for a hot, sunny July day, a record turnout of ambitious youths chose to spend the day exploring their futures at the Berkeley College Summer Workshops held at the Woodland Park, NJ campus.

"We're thrilled with the overwhelming success of our Summer Workshops, which provide high school students with a unique opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with Berkeley College, their peers, and industry professionals,” said Melissa Couden, a High School and Community Relations associate at Berkeley. “Seeing our young participants engage, inspire, and support one another is truly rewarding, and we can't wait to see the impact they'll make in their futures."

Pat Verile, also from High School and Community Relations, agreed, “What a great opportunity for high school students to spend a day with professionals and professors engaging with something that they're passionate about. These students showed a real dedication and interest in learning more.”

Enthusiastic students, teachers, and counselors

Sandi Romaniello, a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher and DECA advisor at Essex County Schools of Technology in West Caldwell, NJ, shared her thoughts on the importance of events such as the Berkeley College Summer Workshop: “It’s a phenomenal opportunity for all students. I always say I wish they had events like these when I was in high school because I definitely would have attended.”

A fun, informative exploration of career fields

Romaniello continued, “This is not a selling pitch for the students to attend Berkeley College. Young students can get a free look into college offerings while being educated in a fun, exciting learning atmosphere through professors and industry professionals using critical thinking and Q&A sessions. They also get a tour of what a college campus looks like and the physical environment of the classroom setting. The workshops shine a light on various careers, which give students a better understanding of what is involved in those industries. This event is so valuable, and I truly believe you can't put a price tag on students educating themselves on their future endeavors.”

A fast-paced and focused day

The day began with a brief welcome from Berkeley College President Dr. Diane Recinos and Associate Vice President of High School Admissions Carol Covino. After that, it was non-stop action for students who chose from a series of workshops in a range of areas, including Healthcare, Business, Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, Graphic and Interior Design, and Fashion. The workshops featured discussions with leading industry professionals as well as hands-on activities. With only a brief stop for lunch, students also got a closer look at the campus facilities. Finally, each student received a certificate for their participation at the end of the action-packed day.

An energetic look at emerging technology

Just before lunch, students from each workshop group took part in a fascinating presentation by Professor Jason Gulya, who spoke about the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in modern culture and in the classroom. “We talked about our hopes and fears for the technology and then practiced how to use ChatGPT to brainstorm by using the ‘accordion technique’,” said Professor Gulya. “This means asking for a few options at first. Then, we select one or two of the best options and ask ChatGPT to use those as models for generating more options. It's quite an easy way to demonstrate how important human decision making and judgment are in the process.”

Justice in Focus: Exploring Crime, Law, and Society

Students interested in the criminal justice and legal fields jumped right into a panel discussion with a Berkeley College graduate and a current Justice Studies - Criminal Justice student, which was led by Pat Verile, Berkeley College Admissions Associate Riccardo Taylor, and Professor Angelo Zecca , DSc. Olivia Strama, a 2022 graduate of the Berkeley College Honors Program, spoke of her journey from student to intern to her current position as a full-time officer with a New Jersey municipal police department. In addition to offering advice on getting the most out of the college experience and ways to stand out in the job-seeking process, she answered questions about a typical day on the job and some of the most intense situations she has encountered.

Olivia Wolski, a current Justice Studies - Criminal Justice student who is on track to earn her Bachelor’s degree in just three years, discussed some of her favorite classes, which include Forensic Science and Victimology and Criminology.

Mr. Verile, a former police commissioner, and Dr. Zecca, a 27-year veteran police officer, also offered insights into the interviewing process, police academies, and other aspects of the transition from college to the professional world.

Unleash Your Leadership: Careers in Today’s Business Environment

Students in the business workshop heard firsthand from several high-profile executives. Maurice Barrett, a 2014 Berkeley College International Business graduate and Alumnus of the Year recipient, offers an extensive and impressive resume. A chief executive, global organizational leader and strategist, executive coach, consultant, and public speaker, he is Chief Diversity Officer at New York State Homes and Community Renewal. He spoke of his journey through challenging circumstances and stressed the importance of internships, connections, and mentors. “Start where your passion is,” he emphasized. “What you put in, you get out.” Mr. Barrett also shared his philosophy of giving back. “Many people think what money you make is your report card,” he said. “But what I give is my report card.”

Students also enjoyed presentations from several more Berkeley College alumni. Erick Gill, a three-time graduate (2000, 2020, and 2022) is now President/CEO of Gill Group Enterprises, LLC, and Vice President of Operations at Pro Constructions & Management Group, LLC. Jasmine Panah from the Class of 2019 is Head of Business Development/Marketing Management/Sales Growth at Nu-Tek Roof Systems.

Mary Farlie, Berkeley College’s Associate Chief Information Officer, discussed careers in information technology, and Professor Demetria Foster led a fun “Business Sustainability Scavenger Hunt,” in which students had to find examples of sustainability efforts located throughout the Woodland Park campus.

Healing Careers: Navigating the Future of Healthcare

Always attracting the day’s largest group of participants, the healthcare workshop offered a fast-paced look into some of the in-demand careers in this exciting field.

Dr. Angelica Delacruz, Chair of the Nursing Department, led a tour and overview of the Berkeley College School of Health Studies nursing labs where students got an up-close look at the technology and simulation equipment used in healthcare education. Dr. Shkelzen Badivuku and Dr. Mandanna Naleyanda, Interim Dean, School of Health Studies, gave students a hands-on demonstration in taking vital signs, drawing blood, and EKG procedures.

In addition, Tradawn Parks, a Registered Nurse and 2023 Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate from Berkeley College, shared her experiences as Area Clinical Director at Distinctive Living, while Michelle Marceca, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, spoke of her role as Executive Vice President at Veramazo Elder Care Concierge.

The healthcare workshop concluded with a panel discussion featuring Miguel Perez, a graduate of the Berkeley College Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program (and current LPN to BSN student) and Kathelyn Cerda, who earned an Associate’s degree in Medical Insurance, Billing, and Coding at Berkeley College. Ms. Cerda spoke of her journey through other college programs before finding Berkeley College and described her duties as a supervisor at Pacific Global.

Mr. Perez, who works at Lincoln Park Care Center, was drawn to the field after witnessing the care and compassion he encountered while accompanying his grandmother to medical appointments while growing up in El Salvador. After working as an EMT, he pursued a career in nursing. After earning his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Berkeley College, he plans to continue his education to be a nurse practitioner.

Make. Create. Innovate.: Unleash Your Design Potential

Design careers span many different fields—including Interior Design, Graphic Design, 3D Digital Visualization, and more—and participants got a taste of it all! In the Berkeley College Design Gallery, students heard from Tina Puteiro (Berkeley Class of 1993, Design Leader at Ethan Allen Global, Inc.). Next, Melissa Fotussky from the Design Concierge at Sherwin Williams offered an engaging presentation. Professor Alfonso Torino, Chair of the Interior Design program, led an introduction to drafting through AutoCAD (computer-aided design) in the Berkeley College Design Lab and Professor Julia Hutchinson, Lead Faculty of the Graphic Design program, guided students through a hands-on project in which they created artwork for Spotify playlists using the design program Canva.

The design workshop concluded with Tom Gerbasio (Berkeley Class of 2019), the Marketing Manager of Creative & Website Operations at Sharp Electronics Corporation USA, who spoke of getting started in the business, doing freelance work, and ultimately landing his current position.

Fashion Frenzy: A Hands-On Workshop for Fashion Lovers

Students with a passion for fashion had a busy day of engaging hands-on projects and fascinating presentations from top industry professionals. Jasmine Stewart, a 2013 Berkeley College grad, explained her role as a Product Development Associate at Walmart.

Paula Perreira (Berkeley Class of 1993), President of Sales and Merchandising at The Dream Lounge, a women’s sleepwear and loungewear company, advised students to always think outside of the box. “Every small task is a stepping stone to bigger things,” she said. “Having retail knowledge is critical to a career in fashion. Being persistent and having passion for what you want to do are key.”

Examining timely topics

Andrea Kennedy, Lead Faculty of the Fashion Merchandising and Management program, led a session on fashion sustainability strategies in which students participated in an activity where they used one of seven strategies to create a new circular fashion style out of an old jumpsuit with the goal of decreasing the impacts that occur when producing new materials.

Professor Kennedy and Jasmine Stewart and led the students through the day’s final activity: the creation of a Back-to-School Mood Board for the 2027 selling season using fabric headers donated by several large global fashion brands.

Firsthand advice from a Ralph Lauren professional

Irene Eva Vastardis, who earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and Management at Berkeley College in 2019, is now a Website Operations Associate at industry giant Ralph Lauren. She spoke of her journey, landing a job, learning how to pivot during the pandemic, and where she ended up. “I manage the Men's and Kid's content pages of the site and app. I manage promotions we set for our ecommerce site and any navigation, FAQs, and backend ad-hoc operations,” she said Her advice for students? "Ask and you shall receive. That is the motto I live by. If you don't ask, the chances will always be zero.”

Looking back on her Berkeley experience

Ms. Vastardis recalled choosing Berkeley College. “It had the most focused fashion program in NJ, focusing on business instead of design,” she recalled. “The experience was great; I loved the flexibility to take online classes and work at the same time. I held down an internship, two part-time positions, and was a full-time student. My professors were great and eager to help me with anything I needed. I still keep in touch with my favorite professor!”

“I believe Berkeley College gave me the foundational knowledge I needed, but also showed me that connections were everything,” she emphasized. “The Career Services department helped me land my first job out of college, starting at Movado Group. I believe you always learn the most on the job, and that's how you truly figure out what you are really passionate about. Personality is everything - and you just need to find that hiring manager to give you a chance.”

The views and/or opinions in this article are those of the individuals interviewed. The academic achievements and/or employment outcomes described in this article are specific to each individual and are not a guarantee of similar results for past or current students. For up-to-date and detailed information, please visit BerkeleyCollege.edu and view our catalogs at BerkeleyCollege.edu/publications.