Career Services hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Paton House before the Job and Internship Fair on Wednesday.

Speakers at the ribbon cutting included: Phyllis Mooney, Executive Director of Career Services; Robina Schepp, Vice President of Enrollment Management; Nancy Reagin, Interim Associate Provost; Joseph Sacks, Pace alum and Audit Partner at the accounting company BDO; and Assembyman Tom Abinanti.

The ceremony marked the official opening and highlighted the importance of Career Services to Pace’s students and alumni.

“Paton House allows Career Services to be more accessible for students,” said Sacks. “Pace’s education is the cornerstone of success. Pace students are well prepared for the business world.”

Career Services is a vital part of the Pace Path because of its role in helping students prepare for and acquire real-world experiences like internships and jobs. Programs include résumé and cover letter workshops, dining and professional etiquette, and access to business attire.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that experiential learning, like internships, plays a positive role in college graduates’ careers.

“More than 5,000 Pace students get internships per year,” said Reagin. “Internships connect to what students learn in the classroom.”

Schepp spoke about many of Pace’s statistics on internships and jobs.

“Career Services connects students to 8,600 employers,” Scheep said “90 percent of students go directly into the workforce after graduation. Our fulltime placement rate outranks the national average by 10 percent.”

After the ribbon cutting, the Career Services staff took the crowd of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members on a tour of their new facilities at Paton House.

“Education is the key that opens the door to the future,” said Assemblyman Tom Abinanti. “Pace is the place.”