National Park College’s (NPC) Career Services department continues to strengthen student success by connecting education to meaningful career pathways through expanded employer partnerships, internship access and early career exploration.
Director of College Success and Career Services Jessica Ellis shared an update with the NPC Board of Trustees this month, highlighting the department’s evolution from a primarily reactive service model to an integrated student success hub.
“Students don’t struggle because they lack ambition,” Ellis said. “They struggle because they lack clarity and support. When students gain clarity, they build confidence, and confident students make better decisions.”
While resume and interview preparation remain foundational services, Career Services now emphasizes one-on-one pathway mapping, internship coordination and direct employer engagement. Through individualized planning sessions, students receive guidance on semester planning, transfer feasibility and long-term career direction, helping them stay motivated and persist to graduation.
Career Services continues to strengthen employer connections that provide students with direct access to real opportunities.
NPC’s annual Job Fair will be held March 12, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Commons. The event typically hosts more than 60 employers each year. In 2025, the fair welcomed 62 employers and more than 200 students and community members.
“Each year we see employers return because they know NPC students come prepared and ready to engage,” said Katelyn Beckwith, administrative assistant for Career Services, who leads job fair planning and employer sponsorship coordination. “Our goal is to make the experience meaningful for both students and employers. This is not just a one-day event, but the start of ongoing professional connections.”
Recognizing that hiring does not occur once a year, Career Services provides multiple access points for employers to connect with students, including internships, volunteer opportunities with the Experience Expo, Career Link postings and “Now Hiring Nighthawks,” an initiative that allows employers to recruit on campus and directly in the classroom throughout the academic year.
By creating consistent opportunities for connection, the department builds strong employer relationships that translate into meaningful, real-world experiences for students and ensure exposure to professional environments, industry expectations and career pathways before graduation.
As employer engagement has grown, so has demand for internship placements. Career Services has responded by increasing paid internship opportunities to reduce financial barriers for students and by sharing placement costs with for-profit employers, stretching institutional funds to support more students. The department continues to strengthen partnerships with organizations such as Visit Hot Springs, which has hired its NPC intern the past two years, while expanding opportunities with the Hot Springs Farmers Market, Emergent Arts and campus departments to create meaningful, hands-on experiences aligned with workforce needs.
Career Services will also be integrated into First-Year Experience courses launching in fall 2026, introducing students to career exploration, goal-setting and campus navigation from their first semester and reducing uncertainty while strengthening long-term persistence.
“Career readiness is not an add-on; it is central to student success,” said NPC President Dr. Wade Derden. “When we intentionally align education with real workforce opportunities, we strengthen our students, our employers and our entire community.”
Through intentional alignment of education and opportunity, NPC Career Services continues to advance student success while supporting regional workforce needs.
For more information visit np.edu/CareerServices.