The Spire

Molly Landis ’27

Staff Writer 

 The Oct. 25 Postgraduate Service Fair enabled students to explore different opportunities available after graduation. The diverse service-based organizations present at the fair offer students the ability to uplift others for a summer, a year, or a couple of years. The fair was a chance to connect and network with Holy Cross alumni and many other organizations. Some of the organizations are located here in Worcester, while some are across the country and beyond.

     The fair was open to all class years, in order to provide an experience for all students to start exploring possible career paths. Julia Weir ‘27 says, “As a freshman, I want to engage with many resources and events to learn how Holy Cross supports students as a Jesuit school. Even though there’s a long way to go until graduation, it never hurts to hear about possible future opportunities.”

     The programs represented at the fair offer opportunities for students to get involved after graduation in service and social justice. Many of the organizations, such as the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC), provide a stipend or living allowance for participants. JVC members are able to volunteer in many different areas, including public health, education, youth services, and food security. JVC maintains core values of “community, social and ecological justice, simple living, and spirituality/reflection,” and the program promotes social justice across the country. 

     Representatives from Notre Dame Mission Volunteers were also present at the fair. Program participants work in schools, non-profits, and community centers to expand access to education. The program offers a range of benefits, including a living allowance, health insurance, and student loan forbearance.

     “Upon graduation, I hope to dedicate a year or two to service before attending law school,” says Owen Whaley ‘24. “At the fair, I spoke to recruiters from the Alliance for Catholic Education at the University of Notre Dame. The program would allow me to serve as a teacher in an under-resourced Catholic school for two years while earning a cost-free Master’s of Education. The opportunity to contribute to the academic and spiritual formation of students as an ACE Teaching Fellow is highly appealing. I was grateful to have a chance to connect directly with their recruiters.”

     Other organizations at the fair promote sustainability and environmental justice, criminal justice reform, education, and gender equality. The fair was an excellent opportunity for students to connect with recruiters and alumni and explore postgraduate experiences.