The Class of 2026 is Reaching New Heights through the Pinnacle Series, a professional development program that saw significant engagement this year as seniors gear up for life after graduation.
One hundred days before Commencement, the Spring 2026 Senior Class was invited to gather and celebrate The Pinnacle of their journey at the Mount with a champagne toast by Dr. and Mrs. H. James Williams. This event launched the countdown to graduation and kicked off The Pinnacle Series of programs that support students as they plan for their lives after college and their future as MSJ Alumni.
This spring was the second annual Pinnacle Series, and attendance doubled from the inaugural year. “We are thrilled that this year’s professional development series had an average attendance of 36 students per session, which was double last year’s average,” said Director of the Career & Experiential Education Center, Amanda Meeker. “As we build on the momentum from last year’s program, we want to reach as many of our graduating students as possible, to let them know that we are all invested in their career success and in supporting them as they build a life of purpose.”
The Pinnacle Series included a variety of events to help students prepare for the Commencement Ceremony on May 9, and for building a life of purpose after graduation. This series included several sessions on topics that are especially interesting for graduating seniors. The sessions included:
- Personal Branding Power Hour and LinkedIn Lounge, Tues., Feb. 17;
- Expand Your Horizons: Alumni Roundtables, Monday, March 2;
- Building Healthy Work Habits from Campus to Career, Thursday, March 19;
- Finding Your Why at Work: Purpose, Passion, and Paychecks, Monday, March 30;
- Hacks for Saving Money and Building Wealth, Wed., April 22.
In photo: Students in Recital Hall for Building Healthy Work Habits from Campus to Career presentation.
Speakers included Mount alumni, faculty, staff, and employers. “The Mount community is invested in supporting the whole student, so we not only prepare students to be leaders in their careers, but we also provide them with experiences to prepare to be leaders in their communities,” said Meeker.
For example, one of the sessions, "Finding your Why at Work: Purpose, Passion, and Paychecks" was appealing to students in a wide variety of majors. Health and Exercise Science faculty member Thomas Palmer said his students took away some meaningful thoughts from the session, including “doubt often brings you closer to clarity” and “if I don’t care for myself, I won’t be able to care for others.”
Professor Dr. Jim Bodle, Ph.D. also brought his entire CORE Capstone class to a session. "Several of my students gained very real insight into the nature of adult life, career paths, and not needing to have it all figured out right now," shared Dr. Bodle.
Another popular session, "Hacks for Saving Money and Building Wealth," was presented by local experts from the Delhi branch of Fifth Third Bank, and Graphic Design professor, Swati Chopra shared the positive student feedback. "My students loved the finance session – they were truly appreciative of the experience and were genuinely excited to learn more.”
Interested in the Pinnacle Series?
If you are interested in learning more about the Pinnacle Series, you can stay up to date on 2027 events here!