Peru, Nebraska – Nearly 40 students, faculty, and staff recently attended the Financial Planning and Etiquette Dinner hosted earlier this spring by Peru State College Career Services in partnership with the College’s Foundation. Students stepped out of their comfort zone to learn about professional behaviors in social settings. The event drew students ranging from first-year students to seniors and an array of majors including education, business, criminal justice, kinesiology, history, social science, and fine arts. Faculty and staff served as table hosts.
The evening started with a social reception including appetizers and beverages, followed by an elegant three-course meal provided by Fresh Ideas Catering. Ted Harshbarger, Interim Director for the Peru State College Foundation, presented proper etiquette techniques throughout each course. Students learned valuable tips such as which fork to use, which glass to use for water, the proper way to eat bread, and what to do if there is something on your plate you do not like.
The goal of the event is to make students more comfortable at formal events in the future. Many students will have an opportunity to use their interpersonal communication and etiquette skills at networking events, interviews, formal work dinners, or banquets. Senior criminal justice major, Beau Craig from Weeping Water, gave this advice to fellow students about the event, “An opportunity that catapults your outlook on etiquette while also allowing you to submerge yourself into a professional situation to best guarantee success in your future careers. This is an opportunity you will not want to pass up. Thanks to Peru State and its staff, I am more confident in my ability to convey precise etiquette in any situation that arises.”
Capping off the event was guest speaker, Mike Guilliatt, a 1967 Peru State graduate, Certified Financial Planner, and owner of Guilliatt and Associates Financial Services in Fremont. He shared advice with attendees on saving and investing money as well as being generous by donating to charities and worthy causes including your college. He demonstrated generosity by donating three books to Career Services.
On May 7, 360 students will receive their degrees and put skills they learned to use in their professional careers. Providing career development opportunities for students helps build skills they need to succeed not only in their careers but everyday life.
A Career Services office was re-established by Peru State this past fall. Dana Stovall, a 1993 graduate of the College, is directing the operations. For more information on the office, please go to https://www.peru.edu or https://careerservices.peru.edu. Stovall can be contacted at dstovall@peru.edu or at 402-872-2287.
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