Student Life

UWF students and alumni ‘suit up’ at JCPenney shopping event

The University of West Florida’s Office of Career Development and Community Engagement recently held its inaugural Argos Suit Up event at a local JCPenney located at 7171 N. Davis Highway. More than 330 students and alumni participated in the three-hour event which provided students and alumni with the opportunity to purchase professional wear and accessories at discounted prices.

Students who attended the shopping event received a 40 percent off coupon to purchase eligible professional clothing. The host JCPenney store manager estimated a total of $30,000 of professional wear and accessories were sold during the event, not including orders placed on the JCPenney website. The store provided a DJ, food and door prizes for the event.

“We know our students and alumni are well-prepared for their future endeavors,” said Lindsey Walk, director of community and employer engagement. “We wanted to ensure they felt confident in presenting themselves to potential employers or graduate school interviewers.”

The Argos Suit Up initiative was brought forward to President Martha D. Saunders by Abigail Megginson, a senior journalism and political science major who served as the SGA director of communications. Megginson saw the potential impact this program could have on students as they prepare to enter the job market after graduation.

“My favorite part of Argos Suit Up has been seeing it transform over the past few months,” Megginson said. “This initiative has shown me what it truly means to be an Argonaut.”

Through fundraising efforts and generous donations, including a $10,000 pledge of personal funds to support the initiative from Saunders, the Office of Career Development and Community Engagement purchased JCPenney gift cards that were awarded to students who demonstrated a need that aligns with the mission of the program. Students applied by submitting a résumé and a short testimonial discussing how they would be impacted by this program.

“I received a $125 gift card towards my purchase and was able to buy a pantsuit, a skirt, and several blouses at no cost to me,” said Brittany Rock, a senior marketing major at UWF. “I am graduating this May, so now I am able to focus on putting my best self forward when I interview for jobs and begin my career.”

For more information on Office of Career Development and Community Engagement, visit uwf.edu/career.

For more information on SGA, visit uwf.edu/sga.