The annual Robert G. McCurdy Slice of Life Career conference will be held Saturday, February 26th, from 10 am to 4 pm in the UC. The conference is sponsored jointly by the CareerCenter, the McCurdy Fund, and the Student Alumni Relations Council (SARC). It seeks to bridge the gap between the ivory tower of student life and reality through seminars on post-university life presented by Carnegie Mellon alumni. Speakers will cover a variety of topics, such as job interview skills, life management, investing, career paths, and the value of a post-graduate relationship with the University.

The keynote address will be delivered by local KDKA News Team personality Sonni Abatta, who graduated with a BHA in 2003. While previous SOL keynote speakers have been older and more seasoned, this year the Student Alumni Relations Council hopes to provide a fresh approach.

"Usually [the keynote speaker] is someone older... but when we found [Abatta] we realized she was a magnificent choice, since she's a more recent graduate and can relate to the students better," said this year's SOL chairman Amy Kim.

"CMU is known for preparing its students for the outside world," added Kim. "The Slice of Life conference is one of the major parts of that process."

The conference is primarily aimed at juniors and outgoing seniors, but all students are invited and encouraged to attend. The 2004 conference drew in over seventy five students, and Kim estimates that about 100 students will attend this year.

The conference was established in cooperation with the McCurdy Fund in the early 1980s, after the death of McCurdy, a former Alumni Relations director who was known for his dedication to alumni involvement in university life. Since its establishment, the Slice of Life Conference has continued in that tradition, strengthening the relationship between previous and current Carnegie Mellon students.

Registration begins at 10 am on the 26th, and can also be done online. Lunch will be provided. For more information on registration, topics, speakers, and a schedule of events, visit the Slice of Life website (http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/~sarc/slice).

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