Chilly Winter Career Fair Opens Hot Job Opportunities for Students
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
More than 550 students connected with 54 employers, including five graduate institutions, at the Winter Career Fair.
Rebecca Adams, a talent acquisition specialist at Enstrom Helicopter Corporation, traveled more than seven hours to recruit Rose-Hulman students during the 2026 Winter Career Fair.
Attending a Rose-Hulman event for the first time, Adams was not sure what to expect, but she found the experience and the conversations with students to be well worth the drive.
"We've met some really wonderful candidates that look like they would be amazing fits for great company cultures like ours," said Adams.
Enstrom, a Michigan-based helicopter manufacturer, was one of 12 employers attending their first Rose-Hulman Career Fair, connecting with more than 550 students who donned their best professional attire and brightest smiles on January 22. Five graduate institutions also participated in the event, including first-time attendee Ohio State University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Also attending for the first time was the alumni-founded Vertical Design Spaces, which specializes in electrical infrastructure for industrial structures such as hospitals, data centers, and manufacturing facilities. Director of Engineering and Co-founder Dillon Mitchell, a 2011 electrical engineering alumnus, has recruited at previous career fairs with other companies and was excited to bring Rose-Hulman interns to his start-up.
"The engineering talent is going to be better than most other places. I understand the caliber of students coming out of Rose," said Mitchell.
Throughout the Sports & Recreation Center, resumes fluttered and business cards passed from hand to hand, as employers from across the country realized in real time the skills a Rose-Hulman student could bring to their company, an experience emblematic of Rose-Hulman's prominent career placement rates. More members of the graduating class of 2026 have already secured full-time offers — several months before graduation — than recent graduating classes, despite a fluctuating national job market.
"Rose students are very unique in how driven they are. They will try to work on a problem until they get it solved," said Isabella Cuasay, a 2018 electrical engineering alumna recruiting for General Electric Appliances. "We have the eagerness to learn, so we always go above and beyond our job description."
Students and employers launched into deep conversations, moving beyond surface-level discussions to truly get to know the other's expertise. Jeremiah Wenke, a sophomore engineering design major, brought a project he had created for his engineering design studio class in the fall quarter to impress employers, whipping it out of his pocket mid-conversation to showcase his skills.
The project tasked him with creating a remote custom for a specific user's requirements. Wenke chose to design his for the character Groot from the "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise, recognizing Groot's unique communication needs.
"Through SolidWorks, I built the electrical components and designed the electrical grid, then I built the remote around it," Wenke said of his 3D printed model. "A lot of (employers) really liked it. It shows an example of what I can do in CAD."
Alexis Petty, a junior mechanical engineering major, took a different approach for standing out to employers, dressing in a sunny yellow blazer to contrast the grey January sky. Seeking an internship in medical or agricultural industries, she greeted the recruiters with a smile that radiated the same warmth as her apparel.
"I thought it was something that'd help employers remember me a little better," Petty grinned.
Those touches, as well as the rigor of a Rose-Hulman education, are what keep employers like OrthoWorx returning to Rose-Hulman year after year. The nonprofit from Warsaw, Indiana, rewarded students who braved the cold with a branded beanie and a discussion about career growth opportunities in the orthopedic sector. Brooke Friedberg, talent director at OrthoWorx, shared a story of a now-alumnus with whom she had had a memorable interaction at a previous career fair and is now advancing medical care at an OrthoWorx partner company.
"He's a design engineer from Rose, and he's doing trauma implants for children," she said. "If a child was in an accident or if they have a bone growth problem, he's helping to solve those issues, which is a huge deal."
As current students envisioned themselves stepping into these roles in the near future, the Rose-Hulman Career Services team helped them to tie their ties, straighten their jackets, and guide them to employers relevant to their major and experience. They provided a few final moments of care and support, after tirelessly helping students update their resumes and practice their interview skills throughout the academic year.
"I actually love Career Services," said Baruni Jigisha Cherukuri, a sophomore computer science major. "They really helped boost my confidence and help me prep for the Career Fair."
Career Services aims to provide that same personal touch to every Rose-Hulman student and alumni — and to match talent to workforce needs at all levels of experience, including seasoned professionals — helping Rose-Hulman graduates leave an impact on their companies and communities. Employers seeking to work with Rose-Hulman graduates or to attend the 2026 Spring or Fall Career Fairs are encouraged to contact careers@rhit.edu to learn more about connecting with the next generation of industry leaders.
Attending a Rose-Hulman event for the first time, Adams was not sure what to expect, but she found the experience and the conversations with students to be well worth the drive.
"We've met some really wonderful candidates that look like they would be amazing fits for great company cultures like ours," said Adams.
Enstrom, a Michigan-based helicopter manufacturer, was one of 12 employers attending their first Rose-Hulman Career Fair, connecting with more than 550 students who donned their best professional attire and brightest smiles on January 22. Five graduate institutions also participated in the event, including first-time attendee Ohio State University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Also attending for the first time was the alumni-founded Vertical Design Spaces, which specializes in electrical infrastructure for industrial structures such as hospitals, data centers, and manufacturing facilities. Director of Engineering and Co-founder Dillon Mitchell, a 2011 electrical engineering alumnus, has recruited at previous career fairs with other companies and was excited to bring Rose-Hulman interns to his start-up.
"The engineering talent is going to be better than most other places. I understand the caliber of students coming out of Rose," said Mitchell.
Throughout the Sports & Recreation Center, resumes fluttered and business cards passed from hand to hand, as employers from across the country realized in real time the skills a Rose-Hulman student could bring to their company, an experience emblematic of Rose-Hulman's prominent career placement rates. More members of the graduating class of 2026 have already secured full-time offers — several months before graduation — than recent graduating classes, despite a fluctuating national job market.
"Rose students are very unique in how driven they are. They will try to work on a problem until they get it solved," said Isabella Cuasay, a 2018 electrical engineering alumna recruiting for General Electric Appliances. "We have the eagerness to learn, so we always go above and beyond our job description."
Students and employers launched into deep conversations, moving beyond surface-level discussions to truly get to know the other's expertise. Jeremiah Wenke, a sophomore engineering design major, brought a project he had created for his engineering design studio class in the fall quarter to impress employers, whipping it out of his pocket mid-conversation to showcase his skills.
The project tasked him with creating a remote custom for a specific user's requirements. Wenke chose to design his for the character Groot from the "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise, recognizing Groot's unique communication needs.
"Through SolidWorks, I built the electrical components and designed the electrical grid, then I built the remote around it," Wenke said of his 3D printed model. "A lot of (employers) really liked it. It shows an example of what I can do in CAD."
Alexis Petty, a junior mechanical engineering major, took a different approach for standing out to employers, dressing in a sunny yellow blazer to contrast the grey January sky. Seeking an internship in medical or agricultural industries, she greeted the recruiters with a smile that radiated the same warmth as her apparel.
"I thought it was something that'd help employers remember me a little better," Petty grinned.
Those touches, as well as the rigor of a Rose-Hulman education, are what keep employers like OrthoWorx returning to Rose-Hulman year after year. The nonprofit from Warsaw, Indiana, rewarded students who braved the cold with a branded beanie and a discussion about career growth opportunities in the orthopedic sector. Brooke Friedberg, talent director at OrthoWorx, shared a story of a now-alumnus with whom she had had a memorable interaction at a previous career fair and is now advancing medical care at an OrthoWorx partner company.
"He's a design engineer from Rose, and he's doing trauma implants for children," she said. "If a child was in an accident or if they have a bone growth problem, he's helping to solve those issues, which is a huge deal."
As current students envisioned themselves stepping into these roles in the near future, the Rose-Hulman Career Services team helped them to tie their ties, straighten their jackets, and guide them to employers relevant to their major and experience. They provided a few final moments of care and support, after tirelessly helping students update their resumes and practice their interview skills throughout the academic year.
"I actually love Career Services," said Baruni Jigisha Cherukuri, a sophomore computer science major. "They really helped boost my confidence and help me prep for the Career Fair."
Career Services aims to provide that same personal touch to every Rose-Hulman student and alumni — and to match talent to workforce needs at all levels of experience, including seasoned professionals — helping Rose-Hulman graduates leave an impact on their companies and communities. Employers seeking to work with Rose-Hulman graduates or to attend the 2026 Spring or Fall Career Fairs are encouraged to contact careers@rhit.edu to learn more about connecting with the next generation of industry leaders.