Student Volunteering at the STC Summit: Free Registration and Networking

Student Volunteering at the STC Summit: Free Registration and Networking

Bethany Aguad

By: Bethany Aguad
Treasurer and Co-Manager, Education Committee
Orlando Central Florida Chapter, STC
treasurer@stc-orlando.org

The STC Summit is accepting student volunteer applications now, and the 18 spots are going to fill up quickly. Volunteering at the Society for Technical Communication Summit is the least expensive investment you can make in your career. It’s free!

The qualifications for a student volunteer are simple—Are you an STC student member, and do you want to attend the world’s premier technical communication conference for free? If yes, then this opportunity is for you!

The 2018 Summit takes place May 20–23 at the Hyatt Regency on I-Drive here in Orlando. The Summit is packed with more than 60 education sessions with topics covering all aspects of technical writing, editing, project management, and publication production. These sessions begin Monday morning and continue through Wednesday morning. Not only does volunteering allow you to capitalize on your STC membership and receive complimentary registration, but it also provides you access to networking opportunities with professional practitioners that you would miss as a regular attendee.

Here are my top reasons you should take advantage of this opportunity to volunteer:

  • You will avoid paying the $200 student registration fee.
  • You will work directly with STC members and presenters from around the globe.
  • You will learn the latest in technical communication tools and trends.
  • You will have a fantastic resume-building item.
  • As central Florida locals, you will avoid the high costs of travel, lodging, and incidentals.
  • You will get to represent the Orlando Central Florida chapter, FTC, and the UCF English department.
STC Summit 2012 – My First Summit as Student Volunteer
(Left to Right) Bethany Aguad, Sarah Baca, Jenny Mellquist, Karen Lane, and Dan Voss

If you have never been to the Summit, then I can understand why you might be intimidated by the prospect of registering as a student volunteer. I attended my first STC Summit as a student volunteer, and I even stepped up the following year to help coordinate the student volunteers. (I actually wrote an article about my experience for Memo to Members: First Time at the STC Summit.) The STC Summit has the following student volunteer positions: room monitors and registration clerks. Both positions have a light workload and provide countless opportunities to take advantage of everything the Summit has to offer.

Sign Up as a Student Volunteer Now

To sign up, please complete the Student Volunteer Application Form as soon as possible, and send it to STC’s Education Manager, Deborah Krat, and the Student Volunteer Coordinator, Carolyn Klinger. The posted deadline is April 2, 2018, but I believe the 18 positions will be filled well before then.

When I first attended the STC Summit as a student volunteer, I found that the knowledge, connections, and confidence I gained exceeded all of my expectations. If you take advantage of this exceptional opportunity, I am confident you will feel the same way.

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