The global health crisis put a halt to many memorable school events that all graduating seniors look forward to. Above them all, in-person graduations have been canceled nationwide and left many graduates without a way to celebrate their accomplishments. To fill the void for graduates during this difficult time, these Black founders started Live Tassel to be the virtual solution for all commencement ceremonies. As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, partners Cabral Clements and James Jackson teamed up to work on the creative production behind Live Tassel to create sufficient virtual graduation ceremonies that could still bring graduates joy. “Graduates should have the opportunity to feel special and recognized,” said Clements. “Not only did I see a need to help schools navigate virtual graduations using my media production skills, but I also needed to personally pivot as projects slowed due to COVID-19.” Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash Along with a small team of editors on staff,...

Whether you’re a current college student or you graduated years ago, you have access to a wide network of alumni who attended the same school as you. By tapping into alumni networks, you could make valuable connections, learn from experts and even get your foot in the door at a prospective employer. So how can alumni help students jumpstart their careers? And what steps can you take to make the most of alumni networks? Here are five ways to connect with fellow graduates of your alma mater (even as you figure out what career is right for you ): Set up a meeting with your career or alumni services office Join online alumni groups Introduce yourself over email Attend local alumni meet-ups and events Set up informational interviews or shadow days Got help from your alumni network? Don’t forget to pay it forward 1. Set up a meeting with your career or alumni services office Colleges offer a wealth of free resources to students and alumni , including career and alumni services. If you’re...