November 22, 2024

(Sydnie Kobza/The VanCougar)

Career Clothing Closet provides free professional attire to WSU Vancouver students

Dress-A-Coug donations help students dress for success ahead of Spring Career Fair

With the Spring Career and Internship Fair right around the corner, students recently had the opportunity to pick up free professional clothing at the Career Clothing Closet event on Feb. 6 and 7. The event, hosted by the Student Resource Center, held in the Firstenburg Student Commons was supported by donations from the Dress-A-Coug drive throughout January.

The annual Career Clothing event is open to WSU Vancouver students, offering clothes, shoes, belts and even ties, all free of charge.  

Sierra Swearingen, a senior communication major said she was at the event “Looking for professional clothes to dress for interviews.” Swearingen added that she was also on the search for ties for her brother.  

Sierra Swearingen at the Career Clothing Closet event. (Katie O’Boyle/The VanCougar)

According to Tina Harney, the career counselor in the Student Resource Center, she noticed a need for professional clothing a few years ago, igniting the birth of the free event.

Vanessa Casillas, a digital technology and culture junior, said the clothing closet is important to students, adding that she attended “Because I have no interview clothes.”

Harney explained that there is no limit on the amount of items students may take and that this year the SRC received a maximum amount of donations.

Tina Harney, WSU Vancouver Student Resource Center career counselor stands in the Firstenburg Student Commons with all of the available clothing behind her at the Career Clothing Closet event. (Sydnie Kobza/The VanCougar)

“Dress-A-Coug happens in January and the career clothing closest is the week before the spring career and internship fair,” Harney said. She said that many more people participated this year than last.  

Some students, like Kody Laurence, a junior majoring in data analytics, have dress clothes that are not quite right for a successful interview. “Funeral suits are all I have,” Laurence said.   

Pre-arranged outfits on display at the Career Clothing Closet event at WSU Vancouver on Feb. 6 and 7. (Katie O’Boyle/The VanCougar)

Despite overflowing donations of interview-appropriate clothing offered at the event, one student found their needs unmet. Brian Rika, a freshmen majoring in computer engineering, expressed disappointment when he could not find dress shoes. “I am just looking for some nice suits. I was hoping to find some dress shoes, but no luck there,” he said.

Any items that were not picked up at the event have been donated to the Share House in downtown Vancouver.

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