College students get a "Taste" of the professional world

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Dozens of Fresno State students spent the day getting a "taste" of life after college.

"Take a student to eat" or taste, pairs them with professionals in their field of interest. We were honored to mentor a few here at ABC30.

Before your favorite Action News personalities ever appeared on your television they all had to start somewhere. Meteorologist Rob Bradley was a Seminole. "I went to Florida state and did the meteorology program there." That's what he shared with several Fresno State students during their visit to the ABC30 studios. They were here as part of "Take a student to eat" or "Taste" a program that pairs mentors with students aspiring to be in the same field.

"This is something that I'm really interested in and I know as a student you can always learn from people who are in the industry," said Fresno State Student Danielle Martin. For Martin this was another step toward her goal of becoming a broadcast journalist. "This is what I want to do and this is something that is achievable. So I know that networking, that is super important."

Martin and her fellow classmates spent the morning getting a taste of professional life. Touring the station and attending meetings with ABC30 producers and managers..

Two students majoring in sales and advertising were paired with ABC30 sales manager Greg Baker, who says he uses the event to scout future talent. "We have one person right now that's from Fresno State that came in from last year. The level of sophistication is tremendously high with a lot of them."

Toni Smith a Fresno State student explained, "I haven't heard of Taste before and I heard it was just a great networking experience and just an experience in itself."

The event capped off with a luncheon at Pardini's where mentors and mentees swapped stories and business cards. Organizers with Fresno's Mass Communication And Journalism Department said attendance was at an all-time high. "Biggest ever, about 180 to 200 came out to embrace this events for the students," said Jan Edwards, Fresno State professor.