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Dress to impress = dress for success

16 students receive business attire from Belk as part of Styled for Success program

Published: Thursday, November 17, 2011

Updated: Thursday, November 17, 2011 20:11

The day for fresh new business attire has finally arrived for 16 N.C. Central University students, as University Career Services' new initiative, "Styled For Success," kicked off its pilot program.

"The purpose of the program is to increase employability to NCCU students who have financial constraints in their pursuit of obtaining appropriate professional attire," said Catrina Dosreis, associate director of University Career Services.

After attending three in-person professional seminars and becoming Professional Development Network (PDN) certified, 13 women and three men were chosen to receive business attire from Belk at Crabtree Valley Mall, through a monetary gift from Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor Susan B. Rosenthal.

Upon completing their professional package, students said they feel empowered, grateful and ready to take on the business world.

"To know that the support and wishes of any Eagle to succeed are out there in our surrounding community only helps motivate me to know and believe that truth and service will get you far," said  public health education junior LaQuesha Cannon.

The students were given gift cards of up to $250 to purchase business suits.

At Belk, the students participated in a professional dress workshop, in which they learned about appropriate attire for an interview and for a business setting.

"It's not really just about the suit, it's about the total package," said Donna Hembrick, director of University Career Services.

Hembrick said that receiving the suits was an incentive, not the real motivation behind the program. The program was developed to help students improve themselves for their futures in the work world.

"I am glad that I was one of the students chosen for the Styled for Success program," said political science senior Shawn Swinnie. "I can learn more about professionalism so that when I receive my degree in May, I can be ready for the big interviews and the workforce," Swinnie said. 

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