KENNESAW, Ga. | Sep 20, 2023

Dozens of eager students were in attendance for a “Day in the Nest” event that brought executives with Atlanta-based package delivery giant UPS face to face with Kennesaw State University engineering students.

 

Hosted by the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SPCEET), the daylong event held on the Marietta Campus featured multiple speakers, an interactive drone demonstration, a picnic lunch, interview opportunities, internship information and a resume workshop.
 
“Very often, in the interviewing process, between a student and a future employer, it is a formal interaction,” SPCEET Dean Ian Ferguson said. “There is asymmetry in this interaction, especially at a career fair. This event was an opportunity for both parties to interact informally and to discover each other’s background and journey. A Day in the Nest really allows the company to engage with students in multiple ways throughout the day.” 
 
One of the United Parcel Service Inc. executives on hand was Luis Arriaga, SVP of operations strategy, who is also a member of the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees. He said the decision for UPS to invest so much time and energy into Kennesaw State was an easy one. 
 
“Kennesaw State has important values that align with ours,” Arriaga said. “With KSU being in the backyard of our corporate office, we recognize the unique opportunity we have to engage with our prospective workforce here.” 
 
First-year student Jimmy Jimenez, a Mechanical Engineering major from Cairo, Georgia, was impressed.
 
“I wanted to hear the steps these executives took to get to the top. But I really loved that Mr. Arriaga was from Mexico. I’m half Mexican so that kind of representation is inspirational,” Jimenez said.
 
Another UPS executive on campus for the event was Scott Keaton, the vice president of transportation industrial engineering. 
 
“I feel like this is an opportunity to find young, interested engineers with a strong educational background who can contribute to our business,” Keaton said. “It’s about developing connections and relationships that help these students get to where they want to be professionally.” 
 
Sophomore Steven Tubbs, a mechanical engineering major from Acworth, Georgia, came to the event full of hope.

 “I came to the Day in the Nest to see if there might be a work opportunity for me,” Tubbs said. “I’m the oldest of five kids so the financial aspect of college is hard. Being able to make these connections and network is important and can help me and my family as well.”
 
SPCEET Senior Associate Dean, Renee Butler, was pleased with both the turnout and the inception of Day in the Nest.
 
“This is a great opportunity,” Butler said. “It’s an exchange of ideas between what our students are really known for and allowing our students to get to know more about industry and what is expected of them.” 

- By Amanda Cook
Photos by Matt Yung

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