Penn State Harrisburg students gain career experience at NSBE convention

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Penn State Harrisburg students gained career skills and connections — and one student walked away with an internship offer — when they attended the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) annual convention, held recently in Baltimore, Maryland.

At the conference, which had a theme of “Advancing S.T.E.M.,” the students participated in workshops, leadership sessions, career fair activities and networking events.

Daron Nyarko, president of the Penn State Harrisburg NSBE chapter and a student majoring in information science and technology, said the experience helped students better understand their career paths.

“Attending the NSBE national convention this year was a big deal for Penn State Harrisburg students,” he said. “The convention provided clarity and confidence. Students had the opportunity to engage with hundreds of companies, gain insight into their respective industries, and better understand what it truly means to build a career in STEM.”

Students connected with representatives from global companies in a variety of industries, including technology, engineering, banking and more. Several students secured interview offers, and one was offered an internship position. Faith Arayi, a master’s student in civil engineering, said the convention changed how she approached career fairs and interactions with recruiters.

“I kind of see myself as an introvert, and career fairs have always been a socially awkward place for me,” Arayi said. “But surprisingly, this wasn’t the case at the convention. The recruiters I spoke with were all eager and patient to hear about my passion, experiences, and what I could potentially bring to any team.”

She said she prepared in advance by researching companies and applying to positions. She completed a virtual interview with Jacobs, an engineering and technical consulting company, for a traffic engineering internship before the event and received an offer during the convention.

“That moment meant so much to my academic and professional development,” Arayi said. “I get to spend my summer working on awesome projects and learning a lot outside of the classroom.”

Victor Fabuluje, a student majoring in computer science with a concentration in data science, said attending the convention influenced how he approaches professional conversations.

“Attending the NSBE 2026 convention was one of the most formative experiences of my college career,” he said. “It pushed me academically, professionally and personally in ways I didn’t fully anticipate.”

A memorable moment, he said, was when a recruiter stopped him mid-conversation and asked him, “what’s your brand?”

“That single question shifted how I think about every professional conversation going forward,” Fabuluje said.

Fabuluje said he secured an on-site interview with a global manufacturing and technology company while at the convention.

“It confirmed that students from Penn State Harrisburg belong in these rooms,” he said. “We showed up prepared, professional, and ready to compete with students from much larger institutions.”

Nyarko said the group prepared for the trip through fundraising and institutional support, including restaurant fundraisers, on-campus bake sales, support from college departments, and a contribution from TE Connectivity.

“Surrounding students with like-minded individuals who are driven to grow and support one another is very impactful,” Nyarko said. “More importantly, they’ve developed the confidence to walk into any room without questioning themselves.”