Each year, students enrolled in business classes at Lakeland University are required by their professors and instructors to attend the annual Business Colloquium as a networking opportunity.

This year’s Business Colloquium took place on Nov. 16. Students were encouraged to attend both the convocation at 11 a.m. and the panels that were held from 1 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. The featured graduates were Bonnie Graff, Becky Mayo, Tess Myklebust, Jess Nickel and Kyle Nothem. Students had the opportunity to engage with the alumni and ask for advice.

Hospitality instructor Britanni Meinnert stated that it is important for students to engage with alumni who graduated in business fields as it helps the students connect with them and their experiences.

“The ability to connect and begin building your network sooner rather than later can help a student be successful post-graduation,” Meinnert said. “You will find that many graduates have found their first job out of college by doing this very thing: networking.”