Indiana State University Newsroom

Suits, ties and dress shoes filled the Indiana State University Career Center Tuesday as students flocked to a professional clothing giveaway.

Faculty, staff and area businesses donated about 500 articles of dress clothes to provide students, who otherwise might not be able to afford it, with professional attire.

"This event was brought about from the needs of the students," said Jeff Hudnall, assistant director of the career center. "Now, there is no excuse for students to not have dress clothes to wear to job interviews or career fairs. We are identifying and executing what the students want."

Students arrived early for the event and attendance far surpassed that of the first such event last with 167 students taking advantage of the opportunity during just the first 30 minutes and total attendance of more than 400 during the three-hour event, compared with a total of 100 students last spring, Hudnall said.

Ricky Short, a freshman athletic training major from Fremont, said he attended the event because he needed clothes for interviews. He said he appreciates the people who donated clothes for students who can't afford expensive clothing.Students stressed the importance of helping with the costs for clothes.

"It feels good for the community to donate these clothes for us," said Elizabeth Mennonno of Plainfield, a sophomore elementary and special education major. "I ran across some friends and they said there were free clothes being given away, so I thought I would take advantage of the opportunity."

Other students have other ideas on how to use their free clothes.

Zach Kogut of Crown Point, a freshman business major, said he is looking forward to wearing the suit he received at his cousin's wedding.

The Career Center conducted its first clothing giveaway at Hulman Memorial Student Union. With the center now in a new location, Hudnall decided to have it in the new building.

"We want to get students into the Career Center and used to our new location," he said. "By getting students into the building they will use the many services we provide."

Any left-over attire from the event will be stored at the career center in an "open closet." The center will also be accepting clothes donations throughout the year for students to stop by and look through the selection of free professional clothing.

"I am very pleased of the turnout and student response," Hudnall said. "I hope to see students wearing clothes they got from this event at the Career Fair next week."

Indiana State's fall Career Opportunity fair will take place Sept. 25 at Hulman Center. About 125 businesses and other organizations have reserved booths to interview students for prospective positions or offer information about graduate school opportunities. For more information, visit the career center's website at www.indstate.edu/carcen.

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Events/Events-by-Year/2013/Career-Center-clothing/i-FLgdxD9/0/D/09_17_13_interview_clothing_giveaway-8426-D.jpg - Indiana State University students look over a selection of donated business attire during the university Career Center's semi-annual professional clothing giveaway Sept. 17, 2013. (ISU/Tony Campbell)

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Events/Events-by-Year/2013/Career-Center-clothing/i-JBsP9bP/0/D/09_17_13_interview_clothing_giveaway-8474-D.jpg - Students make their selections from among about 500 donated suits, shirts, ties, dresses and other items at the Indiana State University Career Center's semi-annual professional clothing giveaway Sept. 17, 2013. (ISU/Tony Campbell)

Contact: Jeff Hudnall, assistant director, Career Center, Indiana State University, 812-237-2741 or Jeffrey.hudnall@indstate.edu

Writer: Dustyn Fatheree, media relations assistant, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3773 or dfatheree@sycamores.indstate.edu