Students and employers participating in the 2015 Lehigh Valley Collegiate Career Expo. (photo courtesy LVCCE)

The Lehigh Valley Collegiate Career Expo (LVCCE) is back, connecting college students and recent graduates with area employers for internships, volunteer opportunities, and part- and full-time employment.

The 16th annual event – for which the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) is a sponsor – will include about 140 companies, allowing students to meet perspective employers who might not otherwise have visited their individual campuses, where job fairs and expos like this are not always offered.

“This is a great opportunity for students from all of the area colleges to attend a large-scale event,” said Jenelle Henry, LVCCE co-chairwoman and Assistant Director of Academic and Career Planning at Kutztown University.

“The colleges and universities in the Lehigh Valley all look extremely different in number of students and majors we represent,” Henry said. “So through this Expo, we’re allowing employers to see students all across the board.”

The LVCCE will be held Feb. 22 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Conference Center at 7736 Adrienne Drive, Breinigsville, PA., located off Routes 78 and 100. Click here to register.

The Expo will feature employers from a wide range of industries, such as biotechnology, construction, engineering, finance, health care, insurance, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, technology, and much more. Click here for a full list of participants.

A few examples of participating employers include ArtsQuest, B. Braun Medical Inc., Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, Lutron Electronics, Olympus Corporation of the Americas, PPL Corporation, St. Luke’s University Health Network, and Victaulic.

“We definitely attempt to have employers from all different industries across the board, because each of the 13 schools have such differing majors,” Henry said.

Any student currently enrolled in an Associate, Bachelors, Masters, or Doctoral degree program at a college or university is welcome to attend, as well as recent alumni of such degree programs. Professional dress is required, and a copy of your resume is required for admission, although it is recommended that visitors bring more than one copy.

A student who attended the Expo last year said the event allowed him to meet with potential employers and build essential interviewing skills, according to an anonymous testimonial on the LVCCE website.

“Within two to three weeks, I was in contact with about a half-dozen employers,” the student said. “I would call the whole thing a success because it really helped prepare me for the future. I would definitely recommend all students to go.”

Job seekers from the following member schools will be admitted to the Expo free of charge: Albright College, Alvernia University, Cedar Crest College, DeSales University, Kutztown University, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Lehigh University, Moravian College, Muhlenberg College, Northampton Community College, Penn State University (all Commonwealth campuses), and Reading Area Community College.

Students from a college of university that does not appear on the above list can participate for a $5 cash admission. Other requirements can be found here, and general tips for all candidates can be found here.

Henry is co-chairwoman for the LVCCE along with Kathleen Nemchik, Associate Director of Career Development for Experimental Learning at Moravian College.

It’s not too late for employers to get involved in the LVCCE. Visit here for more information.