Collegian T he Cameron University
www.aggiecentral.com
Monday, March 23, 2026
Jaley Melton-Wiley Voices Editor
At 3 p.m. on March 5, in the Aggie Rec Center, Cameron University hosted the 29th Annual Red River Career Expo for the Lawton-Fort Sill community. Vendors from across Oklahoma and North Texas came to seek out prospective employees, offering job opportunities, internships and professional interviews to those who attended. Some of the vendors included Goodyear, City of Lawton, KCCU, Cotton Electric Cooperative and Chicken Express. Nick Waring, general manager at the Lawton location for Tradehome Shoes, attended the expo offering full-time and part-time positions for students and community members. Waring attended to look for people who can connect with customers on their foot health and match them with the right product. “We work with a lot of local podiatrists in the area, and they send us a lot of their patients that are dealing with problems,” Waring said. “So, it’s really nice to have some sort of idea of how to help people.” The event was open to the public, so Cameron students and members of the community were allowed to attend and meet with various companies and recruiters. The gymnasium was filled with a plethora of current and future opportunities for attendees to explore. Austin Bowles is
an accounting major at Cameron and the vice president of the accounting club on campus. He was a volunteer at the expo and helped to set up booths for companies that were attending. “(Our) main goal
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“The kind of job I’m looking for is more community-centered,” Holley said, “groups that are focused on trying to give the community something to help them out.” Holley came prepared with a Curriculum
“In the OKC scene, there’s a lot more opportunities. So being offered (this opportunity) at Cameron really helps outsource talent.” - Austin Bowles
CU Accounting Major Photos by Mason Route
as volunteers is to help students toward certain booths and help companies set up their booths,” Bowles said. Bowles added that the expo gave companies access to sources of talent, students and community members — opportunities they may not be able to get elsewhere. “In the OKC scene, there’s a lot more opportunities. So being offered (this opportunity) at Cameron really helps outsource talent,” he said. Many attendees came dressed and equipped for the event, ready to make a great first impression. Students and community members alike prepared answers for interview questions and were very excited about prospective job opportunities and internships. Landon Holley is a physics and math major at Cameron and is the vice president of the robotics club. Holley was looking into internships and hoped to find those opportunities at the expo.
Vitae or CV, which is a document that details one’s entire academic and professional background. He said that he also did research on several companies present at the event, as he wanted to not only prepare for any questions an employer may have, but also ensure the company aligned with his values as well as his educational and professional goals. One company in particular caught Holley’s attention: Cotton Electric Cooperative is a provider for electricity across several counties and has done several events for the community where Holley grew up. “When you come from an area where there’s not really that much money … these are people who are there making sure that those communities have access to electricity, (and) to resources, which is kind-of amazing,” Holley said. Events such as Red River Career Expo connect jobseekers with
employers. It creates a perfect environment for networking and allows face-to-face interaction. With the modern job application experience being almost completely digital, the expo gave the community an opportunity to make their mark by showing up and leaving a lasting impression on employers. If you missed this year’s Red River Career Expo, it is a recurring event and will return to campus next spring, so make sure you’re ready. To better prepare for career expos and networking opportunities, the college employment platform known as Handshake offers various tips on how to get the most out of a career fair:
Research Employers Knowing information on the company prior to speaking with them will help provide their
mission, values and whether they align with personal and professional goals. Research the employers before approaching them to ensure a better networking experience.
Practice Introductions A first impression can be the difference between a great conversation and a job offer. To enhance the conversation, practice personal introductions and answers to interview questions before attending an event.
Come Prepared After first impressions, education, professional background and soft skills are paramount to letting an employer know what kind of person they’re hiring. Prepare a resume to give to employers who may be interested.
Dress Professionally Wearing professional attire for a hiring event is a great way to make a good impression. Try to stay away from athletic or leisurewear when picking an outfit for a career expo.
Seek Out Career Services Additionally, Cameron offers career services to students through the Office of Student Enrichment. They have career-related resources available, as well as workshops, programs and opportunities that help prepare college students for the workforce. For more information on future events, contact the Office of Student Enrichment at sec@ cameron.edu, or go to the Student Enrichment Center in Room 2703 at Nance Boyer Hall.
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